The purpose of the modernization was to firstly upgrade the ships' equipment to fit modern standards, and secondly, to enable the ships to participate in international operations, mainly European Security and Defence Policy operations.
Formålet med moderniseringen var først og fremmest at opgradere skibenes udstyr til at et moderne niveau, men dermed også til at gøre skibene i stand til at deltage i internationale operationer, hovedsagelig EU-operationer.