The US State Department has granted approval for the potential sale of up to 175 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles to the Netherlands, a deal valued at approximately $2.19 billion. This substantial sales package includes 163 Tomahawk Block Vs, 12 Block IVs, and 10 Tactical Tomahawk weapons control systems, along with related equipment and support services. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency articulated that the proposed sale aims to enhance the Netherlands’ ability to tackle current and emerging threats, leveraging long-range, conventional surface-to-surface missiles with significant standoff capabilities.
RTX Corporation is designated as the principal contractor for this procurement, which includes outlined offset requirements—a common practice in defense transactions that usually involves compensatory measures to benefit the purchasing country’s economy.
The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is a crucial asset for naval warfare, deployed from surface warships and submarines for long-range land attack missions. Specifically, the Block IV variant, which entered service with the US Navy in 2004, is equipped with a 1,000-pound (453-kilogram) warhead and boasts an impressive strike range of 900 nautical miles (1,667 kilometers or 1,038 miles). One of its standout features is the ability to be reprogrammed mid-flight via two-way satellite communication, allowing it to target any of 15 pre-programmed sites or be redirected to Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. Additionally, the Block IV can hover over a target, providing real-time battle-damage assessment through an onboard camera.
The newer Block V variant, introduced in 2021, offers enhanced navigation and communication capabilities, along with improved in-flight targeting. It comes in two configurations: the maritime Block Va, which is designed to engage moving surface targets, and the land-attack Block Vb, which is equipped with a joint multi-effects warhead for greater versatility against various land targets.
In a demonstration of operational readiness, a Tomahawk missile was test-fired in March from a De Zeven Provincien-class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. This successful launch was part of efforts to integrate the missiles into the navy’s capabilities, reinforcing the message from the Dutch Ministry of Defence about the strategic advantage these long-range weapons provide. The ministry emphasized that with the Tomahawk system, the Dutch navy can engage targets deep inland from maritime positions, targeting command centers, anti-aircraft installations, and enemy units. The Tomahawk missiles have a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), significantly augmenting the Royal Navy’s combat capabilities and serving as a deterrent against potential adversaries.
Additionally, Amsterdam’s broader plans for military procurement in 2023 include the acquisition of the Israeli PULS (Precise and Universal Launch System) and the JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range), indicating a strategic enhancement of its defense assets in conjunction with the Tomahawk initiative.
