The War Zone – For the first time, the Royal Netherlands Navy has launched a Tomahawk cruise missile from one of its De Zeven Provinciën class frigates. The test launch makes the Netherlands only the fourth country to have fired one of the weapons, which it’s adding to its inventory as part of a wider portfolio of long-range weapons acquired primarily in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Navy Lookout – The Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine) plans to build Multifunction Support Ships (MSS) to bolster the presence and firepower of its conventional surface fleet. Here we look at this innovative solution and its potential implications for other navies.

RUSI – This Whitehall Report examines the ways in which the Royal Netherlands Navy can optimise its force structure and planning to meet its obligations under a scenario in which Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty is invoked.

Defense News – The Netherlands plans to order four new air-defense frigates for more than €3.5 billion (U.S. $3.8 billion) to replace its current fleet, Dutch State Secretary of Defense Christophe van der Maat said in a letter to parliament Friday.

DefensieKrant – Defense and the Dutch company Optics11 have tested the brand new sound system OptiArray. This can detect, recognize and track objects even better underwater and at greater distances. (In Dutch)

(Thanks to Alain)

Defense News – The Royal Netherlands Navy is upgrading its fleet to better handle existing and anticipated threats, with air defense and command frigate De Ruyter recently completing a midlife upgrade that provides the ship with a sophisticated ballistic missile defense radar.

Naval News – The Royal Netherlands Navy is exploring the case for acquiring low-cost, low-manned vessels that could quickly 

Naval News – According to an article published by the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the Dutch Navy plans to strengthen the De Zeven Provinciën-class (LCF) air defense and command frigates and submarines with Tomahawk land-attack missiles.

Politico – Russia is “covertly mapping” critical infrastructure in the North Sea, including gas pipelines and wind farms, in preparation for potential acts of sabotage, according to a report by Dutch intelligence agencies.

Seawaves – 2 of the 4 air defense and command frigates (LC frigates) will be equipped with new air defense missiles and technology from 2028. These are so- called Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 missiles. In 2018, the plan was to equip all 4 frigates of the navy with this. 

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – The Dutch Ministry of Defence announced that the service life of the Walrus-class submarines will be extended.

(Thanks to Alain)

War Zone – Competition in the Arctic is heating up and the Netherlands, along with other NATO members, is preparing for potential conflict in the region.

– Naval News – The Royal Netherlands Navy’s HNLMS Karel Doorman set sails for the Caribbean this morning. The Joint Logistic Support Ship (JSS) has been tasked by the Dutch Ministry of Defense to support civilian authorities in fighting the COVID-19 if the situation calls for it.

– International Policy Digest – The end of an era has come, as the Netherlands send their 4 attack submarines off to a well-deserved retirement. With the replacement fleet, the Netherlands will reinforce its leading position, both within Europe and NATO, as one of the few truly sovereign high-sea fleets. But before positioning once again as the submarine experts of the continent, the Netherlands need new submarines.

– War is Boring – Russia’s only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov recently passed through the English Channel and into The Netherlands’ exclusive economic zone. But the Dutch navy had no ships available for escort duty.

– Aviation Week – Yesterday’s engagement between a suspect dhow and the Royal Netherlands Navy landing ship dock Hr.Ms. Rotterdam was an uneven fight, despite sustained fire by suspected pirates.

– Aviation Week – The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN) landing platform dock Hr. Ms. Rotterdam left its home port of Den Helder yesterday to participate in NATO’s Operation Ocean Shield counterpiracy mission off the coast of Somalia.

– Defense Technology International – The Dutch parliament yesterday approved reinforcements of NATO’s Operation Ocean Shield counterpiracy mission while delaying a decision to expand the EU’s parallel Operation Atalanta until after parliamentary elections in September.

– Defense Technology International – The Royal Netherlands Navy submarine Hr. Ms. Dolfijn returned to the port of Den Helder on 1 June after a three-month deployment as part of NATO’s Operation Ocean Shield counter-piracy mission off the Somali coast.

– Defense Technology International – The Netherlands plans to deploy 50 vessel protection detachments (VPDs) to protect vulnerable ships from Somali pirates in 2012, ten times the number deployed so far this year.

– Defense Technology International – The Royal Netherlands Navy minehunter Hr. Ms. Haarlem is hunting mines with its hull-mounted sonar and exploding those found with its Seafox unmanned underwater vehicles.

– BBC – Talks are under way to free three Dutch marines captured in Libya as they tried to evacuate foreign citizens.

– Defense Technology International – Somali pirates have been taught another lesson by the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Fast Combat Support Ship Amsterdam. Yesterday, the Amsterdam intercepted a group of pirates off the Somali coast, and not for the first time.

– Defense Technology International – The Royal Netherlands Navy support ship Hr. Ms. Amsterdam yesterday escorted a ship delivering supplies to Somalia for the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP).

Radio Netherlands – Bleak Christmas for Dutch naval crew

The crew of a Dutch Royal Navy frigate off the Somali coast is facing the prospect of a bleak Christmas this year. Instead of going home to enjoy the festive season with their families, they are stuck with 13 Somali prisoners on board with no country willing to take them.

(Thanks to Justin for the link!)