Britain and the Netherlands have signed a new maritime partnership that will see both nations’ forces equipped with next-generation amphibious transport ships, built in UK shipyards alongside Dutch industry as part of a £2.4 billion deal expected to support hundreds of high-skilled UK jobs.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten signed the agreement during the NATO Summit in Ankara. Based on a Dutch design, the ships will form the backbone of a strengthened UK-Netherlands amphibious force, with each nation operating four vessels. At 160 metres long and 15,000 tonnes, the ships will transport troops, vehicles and equipment, including drones, and their flight decks are being designed to operate current and future long-range drones and autonomous systems, supporting the Royal Navy’s transition to a hybrid Navy.
Starmer said the partnership was “not just about building ships” but about “delivering long term security for both the UK and The Netherlands,” combining British industrial expertise with Dutch design and seafaring experience. Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE MP said the two nations were “building an even stronger amphibious force,” noting that shared equipment and joint exercises mean the forces “can fight and win together.” The agreement builds on more than 50 years of cooperation through the UK-Netherlands Amphibious Force, Europe’s longest-running integrated military force, and will see the Royal Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy train, deploy and operate together more closely, alongside deepened cooperation on autonomous and uncrewed technology.
As close NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force allies, the UK and Netherlands will also work together to protect critical undersea infrastructure and deter threats in the North Atlantic and High North. The deal follows the UK’s recent agreement with Norway to build five Type 26 vessels in UK shipyards, supporting 4,000 British jobs, and sits within the wider Defence Investment Plan funding the Royal Navy’s shift toward a hybrid force combining crewed warships with autonomous surface and undersea drones.
For the UK shipbuilding and defence supply chain, this partnership represents a substantial, multi-year programme of work built around UK-based construction, with the shared design and autonomous systems focus likely to generate demand well beyond the shipyards themselves.
Businesses with relevant capabilities should monitor the following areas as the programme moves from agreement into build:
- Amphibious ship construction, outfitting and systems integration
- Flight deck design for drone and autonomous system operations
- Autonomous surface and undersea vehicle technology
- Undersea infrastructure protection and surveillance systems
- Joint UK-Netherlands industrial and technology cooperation
- Naval systems integration supporting hybrid Navy capability
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Image: Damen
Post written by: Vicky Maggiani
Vicky has worked in media for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.
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