British shipyards are set to build a new fleet of Dutch-designed amphibious transport ships after the UK and the Netherlands signed a £2.4bn deal on July 7 during the NATO summit in Ankara.
The ships will be built in UK shipyards alongside Dutch industry, which is expected to support hundreds of high-skilled UK jobs, the British government said.
At 160 metres long and 15,000 tonnes, the ships will transport troops, vehicles and equipment including drones wherever they are needed. Their flight decks will be designed to operate current and future long-range drones and autonomous systems, supporting the Royal Navy’s transition to a hybrid Navy.
The agreement will see eight ships being constructed, with four allocated to the UK and four to the Netherlands.
The partnership builds on the recent deal struck by the UK and Norway to deliver five Type 26 vessels – built in UK shipyards – to the Norwegian Navy, supporting 4000 British jobs. It also comes as the UK is reportedly investing billions on the hybrid navy through the Defence Investment Plan.
UK’s prime minister Keir Starmer and Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten announced the partnership on Tuesday, saying the Royal Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy will increasingly train, deploy, and operate together more effectively, while improving NATO’s ability to respond quickly to crises.
Keir Starmer said: “This partnership is not just about building ships, it is also about delivering long term security for both the UK and The Netherlands, ensuring we are able to stay ahead of the threats of tomorrow.
“Combining the UK’s industrial expertise with The Netherlands’ design and sea-faring experience to deliver first-rate platforms for our elite amphibious forces, this partnership will strengthen NATO.
“I am incredibly proud that British shipyards will help deliver these ships, creating and sustaining good jobs here at home in the UK.”
The partnership will also accelerate industrial and military cooperation on autonomous and uncrewed technology, boosting defence industry in both nations while helping stay ahead of new threats, the British government said.
