The Royal Navy (RN) will acquire four new amphibious transport ships optimised for drone warfare in a £2.4bn deal as part of a new maritime partnership with the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN).
Under a deal signed between Britain and the Netherlands at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey yesterday (Tuesday) each nation will procure and operate four new vessels.
The ships are likely to be based on Damen’s Enforcer Landing Platform Dock (LPD) design; they will be 160 metres long and 15,000 tonnes. The RN ships will be built at as-yet unnamed British shipyards, as per the U.K. Government statement.
It noted: “The new ships will form the backbone of a strengthened U.K.-Netherlands amphibious force… the ships will transport troops, vehicles and equipment including drones wherever they are needed.
“Their flight decks will be designed to operate current and future long-range drones and autonomous systems, supporting the Royal Navy’s transition to a hybrid Navy.”
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer commented: “Combining the U.K.’s industrial expertise with the Netherlands’ design and sea-faring experience to deliver first-rate platforms for our elite amphibious forces, this partnership will strengthen NATO.”
And Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis added: “We are building an even stronger amphibious force with the Netherlands, strengthening our defence and deterrence as close NATO allies and JEF partners.
“Our forces will operate the same equipment and deploy on exercises together, so if they need to, we can fight and win together.”
A Dutch MoD statement noted: “The Netherlands and the United Kingdom will jointly acquire new Amphibious Transport Ships. These ships are intended to support the military in operations on water and on land. The Netherlands has reserved 1 to 2.5 billion euros for this purpose.”
The new joint force builds on a long tradition of close collaboration between Dutch and U.K. commando units which stretches back more than half a century.
The U.K. Government statement said that going forward British and Dutch forces would train, deploy, and operate together more often, adding: “Operating the same amphibious transport ship is key to the integration of both Navies, as well as the future drone and uncrewed tech that will be developed between the two nations.
“As close NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force allies, and strong supporters of Ukraine, the UK and Netherlands will work together to protect critical undersea infrastructure and deter threats in the North Atlantic and High North.”
- You can read more details on the U.K. Government website