According to Belgian media, Belgium and the Netherlands will buy four frigates and twelve minehunters worth some four billion euros.
The Belgian media picked up the news from sources at Defence in Brussels.
Minehunters and Frigates
Belgium and the Netherlands are said to invest 2 billion euros each. The Belgian Minister of Defence Steven Vandeput and Dutch Minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert will sign a contract later this month.
At the moment, Belgium is already responsible for maintaining the Dutch minehunters and will be in charge of ordering their replacements. The Netherlands will be responsible for the frigates. Both navies have a history of working together where logistics, maintenance, training and shared missions are concerned.
The contract is said to also cover 34 fighter aircraft, replacing the outmoded F16s and six unarmed drones.
Picture: Dutch naval vessels (picture by Dutch Ministry of Defence).
