United States Approves $2.19 Billion Tomahawk Missile Sale to Strengthen Netherlands’ Naval Power
The United States has officially approved a major arms deal with the Netherlands, paving the way for the sale of advanced Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles and related equipment worth an estimated $2.19 billion. This move, confirmed by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), aims to bolster the defense capabilities of one of America’s key NATO allies.
As part of the agreement, the Netherlands will receive up to 163 Tomahawk Block V missiles, 12 Tomahawk Block IV missiles, 10 Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control Systems (TTWCS), and 2 special telemetry missiles designed for testing. Alongside these major items, the package also includes important communication systems, satellite data link terminals, secure broadcast equipment, and various support tools for operating and maintaining the missiles.
The sale isn’t limited to just the missiles. It also covers technical support, program management, engineering assistance, logistics support, containers for transporting the missiles, flight tests, spare parts, training devices, and specialized software and hardware. Altogether, it ensures that the Dutch Navy will be fully equipped to integrate these powerful weapons into their existing defense systems smoothly.
The DSCA explained that this deal supports U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening a NATO partner that plays a crucial role in European stability and security. It also gives the Netherlands the ability to counter growing threats using long-range, precision-strike missiles capable of neutralizing key targets from a safe distance.
Recently, the Royal Netherlands Navy successfully tested a Tomahawk missile launch from its frigate, Zr.Ms. De Ruyter, off the coast of Norfolk, United States. It was the first time a Dutch naval ship fired a Tomahawk missile, conducted under the supervision of the U.S. Navy and in collaboration with a Dutch defense team. This successful test provided vital data and marked a significant step toward the Netherlands becoming fully operational with Tomahawk systems.
With the Tomahawk’s impressive range of over 1,000 kilometers, the Dutch Navy will now be capable of striking important inland targets such as command centers, enemy air defenses, and other critical military positions — all from ships at sea. The Dutch Ministry of Defence emphasized that adding Tomahawks will boost deterrence and contribute to national and NATO defense objectives.
The United States confirmed that the Netherlands would be able to easily integrate these new systems into its military without disrupting the regional military balance. RTX Corporation, based in Tucson, Arizona, has been selected as the main contractor for the deal. Offset agreements, which often involve industrial cooperation or other benefits to the purchasing country, are also part of the arrangement.
This major defense deal highlights the growing defense partnership between the U.S. and the Netherlands at a time when maintaining strong security ties in Europe remains more important than ever.
