Paris: The Netherlands plans to buy a torpedo-killing torpedo as early as 2029, replace the armed forces’ standard assault rifle starting this decade and equip its heavy infantry brigade with tracked armoured general-purpose vehicles, as part of 17 equipment projects for the coming years.
Total spending on the planned projects will be at least €1.45 billion (US$1.65 billion), based on the lower end of the budget range for each project, according to a so-called “A letter” from the Dutch Ministry of Defence sent to parliament outlining equipment requirements.
“It’s essential that the Ministry of Defence has the necessary defence equipment at its disposal in good time to increase our deterrence and be a reliable NATO ally,” State Secretary of Defence Gijs Tuinman wrote. “With this omnibus A letter, the Ministry of Defence is taking the next step toward greater flexibility and less internal bureaucracy in the procurement process.”
The Netherlands lifted its 2025 defence budget to €22 billion, after spending €21.4 billion last year. The country is in the process of renewing its fleet of air-defence frigates, anti-submarine warfare frigates and submarines, and on land is beefing up its 43 Mechanised Brigade into a heavy infantry brigade with a full-fledged tank battalion and mobile air-defence systems.
The Dutch plan to equip the future frigates, submarines and new amphibious transport vessels with a hard-kill system to defend against unmanned underwater vehicles such as drones and torpedoes. The first platform to be fitted with the anti-torpedo torpedo (ATT) system will be the anti-submarine warfare frigates, according to Tuinman.
