**PARIS —** The Netherlands is set to undertake significant military upgrades over the coming years, planning to purchase a torpedo-killing torpedo by 2029, replace its standard assault rifle starting in this decade, and equip its heavy infantry brigade with tracked armored general-purpose vehicles. This is part of a total of 17 equipment projects, with a budget totaling at least €1.45 billion ($1.65 billion), as outlined in a letter sent to parliament by the Dutch Ministry of Defense on Wednesday.
State Secretary of Defence Gijs Tuinman emphasized the importance of timely procurement for enhancing deterrence capabilities and maintaining reliability as a NATO ally. The Dutch defense budget for 2025 has been increased to €22 billion, a rise from €21.4 billion last year. In addition to upgrading specific weaponry, the country is modernizing its fleet of air-defense frigates, anti-submarine warfare frigates, and submarines. The ground forces are also enhancing the 43 Mechanized Brigade into a heavy infantry brigade, complete with a tank battalion and mobile air-defense systems.
The Netherlands plans to integrate a hard-kill system on future frigates, submarines, and new amphibious transport vessels to defend against unmanned underwater vehicles such as drones and torpedoes. The anti-torpedo torpedo (ATT) system will first be installed on anti-submarine warfare frigates, with development continuing through the European Union’s Permanent Structured Cooperation until 2028. The acquisition of operational ATTs is projected to begin in 2029, coinciding with the operational rollout of a new Dutch ASW frigate.
Planned investment for the ATT system is between €250 million and €1 billion from 2025 to 2039. Additionally, the Netherlands seeks international military partnerships to mitigate developmental and financial risks associated with this project.
Other proposed investments include replacing Mark 48 torpedoes for new Orka-class submarines, which are set to be delivered in the early 2030s, as well as enhancing unmanned aerial and surface vessels for intelligence and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, with respective budgets ranging from €50 million to €250 million.
For land forces, the Netherlands intends to invest between €250 million and €1 billion to procure 100-150 tracked armored vehicles for various roles within the heavy infantry brigade. The acquisition process is planned as negotiations without tender, focusing on known systems already in use.
Though specific models have not been disclosed, the 43 Mechanized Brigade currently utilizes the CV90 infantry combat vehicle by BAE Systems Hägglunds, which is also involved in a joint purchasing effort with Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Lithuania.
Additionally, the Dutch armed forces will replace their Colt C7 standard assault rifles and C8 carbines with a financial plan of €250 million to €1 billion spanning from 2027 to 2041. Existing rifles are set to reach the end of their technical lifespan by 2030, with new variants expected to be delivered before the decade ends.
The Ministry of Defense is also planning to procure approximately 200 multi-barrel machine guns for helicopters and ships, for a budget of €50 million to €250 million, needing improved engagement speeds and reliability over existing models.
On the air capabilities front, the Ministry has indicated that Dutch F-35 jets will require tactical armaments capable of hitting well-defended targets. A budget of €50 million to €250 million has been allocated for this from 2027 to 2032.
To facilitate these purchases, the Dutch government has streamlined procurement processes, raising the notification threshold for parliament from €100 million to €250 million, and doubling the internal approval threshold to €50 million since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
*Rudy Ruitenberg is a Europe correspondent for Defense News, with prior experience at Bloomberg News reporting on various domains.*
