FN and Damen to develop next-generation maritime defense solutions

March 13, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Damen Shipyards Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with FN Herstal, laying the foundation for a strategic industrial participation in maritime defense.

As disclosed, the two parties aim to collaborate closely on the integration of FN solutions with Damen vessels, and the development of the regional, European and NATO defense eco-systems.

The agreement was signed at the BEDEX (Brussels European Defence Exhibition & Conference) event on March 12. 2026. The agreement provides for close collaboration in innovation and engineering, including the joint exploration of advanced maritime solutions and unmanned surface vessels (USVs).

The solutions that the partnership will develop are aimed at meeting current and future operational requirements of the Belgian and Dutch navies as part of the BeNeSam (Belgian-Netherlands Cooperation Accord) agreement, as well as those of NATO and European partners.

Both parties will align their industrial positioning, knowledge sharing, and joint visibility towards institutional and operational stakeholders, with the aim of supporting competitive and operationally relevant solutions.

“The collaboration between FN and Damen opens up unprecedented perspectives in the development and innovation of integrated maritime platforms. By combining our respective expertise, we create the conditions to offer solutions with high operational added value, tailored from the outset to the current and future challenges of the world’s most demanding armed forces,” Julien Compère, CEO of FN Herstal said.

“This collaboration aligns with our ambition to deliver complete and integrated maritime defence solutions. Together with FN Herstal, we are strengthening our innovation capabilities, including in the field of unmanned systems, and supporting navies with solutions designed from the ground up for complex maritime operations,” Arnout Damen, CEO of Damen, stated.

“This partnership is reflective of Damen’s commitment to working together with like-minded partners to meet the needs of our clients in the defence and security sector. This is more important than ever at this time of geopolitical challenge. With this agreement, FN and Damen combine our respective capabilities in order to address emerging naval needs in national, regional and NATO spheres, providing innovative solutions for now and for the future,” Vincent Maes, Director Damen Belgium, commented.