Tender expected for new Dutch auxiliary ships
HNLMS Mercuur will be one of 10 RNLN auxiliary ships to be replaced by a new class of eight ships. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
The Royal Netherlands Navy has announced plans to replace its ageing auxiliary ships with a fleet of new vessels.
A tender is expected by the end of this year for a class of eight auxiliary ships that will be divided into two variants: four equipped for open ocean operations and four specialised for inshore operations.
According to the Dutch Defence Project Overview Report 2023, published in September, an acquisition preparation phase will begin in 2025 – known in the Netherlands as a D-letter – which would see the Dutch MoD enter into a long-term partnership with a single supplier for the ships.
The RNLN would require delivery of the new ships within the 2026–30 timeframe as its 10 older vessels
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star’s 50-year service highlights capability gaps in Antarctica]()
US Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star’s 50-year service highlights capability gaps in Antarctica
Delays in the construction of the Polar Security Cutter – the future substitute for the Polar Star – are likely to prolong the ageing icebreaker’s service time even more, putting the USCG in a risky position.
-
![As Indonesia doubles up its order, who else is looking at the Arrowhead 140 frigate design?]()
As Indonesia doubles up its order, who else is looking at the Arrowhead 140 frigate design?
The adaptable design of Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 frigate, already selected by the UK Royal Navy and Poland, has led to more orders from Indonesia while other countries continue to weigh it up.
-
![Does the increase in US firepower in the Middle East indicate another Iran strike?]()
Does the increase in US firepower in the Middle East indicate another Iran strike?
The presence of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Persian Gulf means additional naval and aerial capabilities, which provides the US with multiple attacking options.
