UK and Netherlands Sign £2.4 Billion Joint Amphibious Warship Deal
The UK and Netherlands signed a £2.4 billion agreement on July 7, 2026, during a NATO summit in Ankara, to build a joint fleet of eight 15,000-tonne amphibious transport ships. Each nation will operate four vessels, built in UK shipyards to a Dutch design, restoring Royal Navy amphibious capability after the 2025 retirement of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. The deal is part of the Future Commando Force program, backed by over £500 million, and strengthens NATO’s northern flank and Arctic operations.
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Eight amphibious transport ships to be built under UK-Dutch £2.4bn deal
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed a £2.4 billion partnership with the Netherlands to build eight amphibious transport ships in British shipyards. Based on a Dutch design, four vessels will be operated by each nation, forming the backbone of a joint amphibious force. The ships, around 160 meters long and 15,000 tonnes, will carry troops, vehicles, and drones, with flight decks for uncrewed systems. They are expected to enter service from the early 2030s, restoring a dedicated amphibious flotilla for the Royal Navy after the retirement of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. The industrial model mirrors the UK-Norway Type 26 frigate deal, supporting hundreds of high-skilled UK jobs. The specific shipyards have not yet been announced.
UK Defence JournalEight amphibious ships to be built under UK-Dutch deal
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed a £2.4 billion partnership with the Netherlands to build eight amphibious transport ships, with four vessels operated by each nation. The ships, based on a Dutch design, will be built in British shipyards, supporting hundreds of high-skilled UK jobs. Defence Minister Luke Pollard stated the vessels will form the backbone of a strengthened UK-Netherlands amphibious force. Each ship will be approximately 160 meters long and 15,000 tonnes, capable of carrying troops, vehicles, drones, and uncrewed systems. They are expected to enter service from the early 2030s, restoring a dedicated amphibious flotilla for the Royal Navy following the retirement of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. The industrial arrangement mirrors a previous deal with Norway on Type 26 frigates. The specific shipyards have not yet been announced.
UK Defence JournalBalaena Pitches UK Shipyards for New UK-Dutch Amphibious Transport Ships
Shipbuilder Balaena has welcomed the UK and Netherlands' joint £2.4 billion programme to procure a new class of amphibious transport ships, positioning its Birkenhead and North East England facilities to build the 160-metre, 15,000-tonne vessels. The agreement, signed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Dutch PM Rob Jetten during a NATO leaders' meeting in Ankara on 7 July 2026, will see each nation operate four ships based on a Dutch design, built in UK yards alongside Dutch industry. Balaena CEO Simon Gillett highlighted the company's recent work on Type 26 frigate components and Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, as well as a strong commercial order book including three ferries. The programme supersedes the UK's earlier Multi-Role Strike Ship concept. Competition is expected from other UK shipbuilders such as Navantia UK.
UK Defence JournalBalaena Offers UK Shipyards for New UK-Dutch Amphibious Transport Ships
Shipbuilder Balaena has welcomed the UK and Netherlands' joint £2.4 billion programme to procure a new class of amphibious transport ships, with each nation operating four vessels. The agreement was signed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Dutch PM Rob Jetten during a NATO leaders' meeting in Ankara on 7 July 2026. The 160-metre, 15,000-tonne ships will transport troops, vehicles, and drones, featuring flight decks for uncrewed systems. Balaena CEO Simon Gillett stated the company is ready to build the vessels at its Birkenhead and North East England facilities, citing recent work on Type 26 frigates and Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. The programme supersedes the UK's earlier Multi-Role Strike Ship concept. Navantia UK has also expressed interest, indicating competition among major British shipbuilders.
UK Defence JournalBalaena Pitches Shipyards for New UK-Dutch Amphibious Transport Ships
Shipbuilder Balaena has welcomed the UK and Netherlands' joint £2.4 billion programme to procure a new class of amphibious transport ships, signed by Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Rob Jetten at a NATO meeting in Ankara on 7 July 2026. The 160-metre, 15,000-tonne vessels will transport troops, vehicles, and drones, with flight decks for uncrewed systems. Each nation will operate four ships, built in UK yards based on a Dutch design. Balaena CEO Simon Gillett stated the company is ready to construct the ships at its Birkenhead and North East England facilities, citing recent work on Type 26 frigates and Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. The programme supersedes the UK's earlier Multi-Role Strike Ship concept. Navantia UK has also expressed interest, indicating competition among major British shipbuilders.
UK Defence JournalUK to Build All Eight Anglo-Dutch Amphibious Assault Ships
Britain will build all eight planned Anglo-Dutch amphibious assault ships, including four for the Royal Netherlands Navy, Defence Minister Luke Pollard confirmed. Speaking to a joint session of Treasury and Defence Committees on 8 July 2026, Pollard described the £2.4 billion agreement as an export campaign win for UK industry. The joint programme covers eight Amphibious Transport Ships (ATS), with four each for the Royal Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy. The final allocation of work between UK shipyards has not been decided, with block construction across multiple sites possible. Navantia UK has positioned its Harland and Wolff yard in Belfast for the programme. The ships, approximately 160 metres long and displacing 15,000 tonnes, will carry troops, vehicles, drones, and operate uncrewed systems. The first vessel is expected to enter service in the 2030s, restoring dedicated amphibious capability after the retirement of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. The programme replaces the earlier Multi-Role Strike Ship concept and follows the UK-Netherlands Project Catherina.
UK Defence JournalUK to Build All Eight Anglo-Dutch Amphibious Assault Ships
UK Defence Minister Luke Pollard confirmed that all eight planned Anglo-Dutch amphibious transport ships, including four for the Royal Netherlands Navy, will be built in British shipyards. Speaking to a joint session of Treasury and Defence Committees on 8 July 2026, Pollard described the £2.4 billion agreement as an export campaign win for UK industry. The joint programme, signed by Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Rob Jetten at the NATO summit in Ankara, covers four ships for the Royal Navy and four for the Royal Netherlands Navy. The final allocation of work between UK yards has not been decided, with block construction across multiple sites possible. Navantia UK has positioned its Harland and Wolff yard in Belfast for the programme. The ships, approximately 160 metres long and displacing 15,000 tonnes, will carry troops, vehicles, drones, and operate uncrewed systems. The first vessel is expected to enter service in the 2030s, restoring dedicated amphibious capability after the retirement of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.
UK Defence JournalUK and Dutch Partner on Next-Gen Amphibious Assault Ships
The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have announced a joint program to build eight next-generation amphibious transport ships, with each country operating four vessels. The deal, worth £2.4 billion ($3.2 billion), will replace aging platforms such as the UK's Albion class and the Netherlands' Rotterdam class. The ships, based on a Dutch design likely from Damen's Enforcer family, will be built in UK shipyards with Dutch industry involvement. They are expected to enter service from the early 2030s. The vessels will feature flight decks designed for current and future long-range drones and autonomous systems, aligning with the UK Royal Navy's shift to a 'hybrid navy.' The program strengthens NATO's amphibious capabilities and builds on the existing UK-Netherlands Amphibious Force cooperation.
TWZUK and Netherlands Partner on Next-Generation Amphibious Assault Ships
The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have announced a joint program to develop and build a new fleet of eight amphibious transport ships, with each country operating four vessels. The deal, valued at £2.4 billion ($3.2 billion), will replace aging platforms such as the UK's Albion class and the Netherlands' Rotterdam class. The ships, based on a Dutch design likely from Damen's Enforcer family, will be built in UK shipyards with Dutch industry involvement and are expected to enter service from the early 2030s. The vessels will feature flight decks designed for current and future long-range drones and autonomous systems, aligning with the UK Royal Navy's shift to a 'hybrid navy.' The partnership strengthens NATO's amphibious capabilities and builds on the existing UK-Netherlands Amphibious Force, which dates back to the Cold War.
TWZUK and Dutch Partner on Next-Gen Amphibious Assault Ships
The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have announced a joint program to build eight new amphibious transport ships (landing platform docks), with each country operating four vessels. The deal, worth £2.4 billion ($3.2 billion), will use a Dutch design (likely from Damen's Enforcer family) and be built in UK shipyards, including Harland & Wolff in Belfast. The ships, expected to enter service from the early 2030s, will replace the UK's aging Albion class and the Netherlands' Rotterdam class. They will feature flight decks designed for current and future drones and autonomous systems, aligning with the UK Royal Navy's 'hybrid navy' concept. The partnership strengthens NATO's amphibious capabilities and builds on the existing UK-Netherlands Amphibious Force.
TWZUK and Netherlands sign $3.2bn deal for joint amphibious ships
The UK and Netherlands have finalized a £2.4 billion ($3.2 billion) agreement to build a new fleet of eight amphibious transport ships, with each country operating four vessels. The deal was signed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten during a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. The ships, using a Dutch design, will be constructed in UK shipyards in collaboration with Dutch industry. Each vessel will be 160 meters long, weigh 15,000 tonnes, and carry troops, vehicles, equipment, and drones. The flight decks will accommodate current and next-generation long-range drones and autonomous systems. UK Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis stated the partnership strengthens defense and deterrence as NATO allies and Joint Expeditionary Force partners. The agreement also includes increased collaboration between the Royal Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy in training, deployment, and operations, as well as plans to protect undersea infrastructure and address emerging defense challenges.
Naval TechnologyUK and Netherlands sign $3.2bn deal for joint amphibious ships
The UK and Netherlands have finalized a £2.4 billion ($3.2 billion) agreement to build a new fleet of eight amphibious transport ships, with each country operating four vessels. The deal was signed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey on July 7. The ships, using a Dutch design, will be constructed in UK shipyards in collaboration with Dutch industry. At 160 meters long and weighing 15,000 tonnes, the vessels will carry troops, vehicles, equipment, and drones, with flight decks designed for current and next-generation autonomous systems. UK Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis stated the partnership strengthens defense and deterrence as NATO allies and Joint Expeditionary Force partners. The agreement also includes increased collaboration between the Royal Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy in training, deployment, and operations, as well as plans to protect undersea infrastructure and address emerging defense challenges.
Naval TechnologyUK and Netherlands sign $3.2bn deal for joint amphibious ships
The UK and Netherlands have finalized a £2.4 billion ($3.2 billion) agreement to build a new fleet of eight amphibious transport ships, with each country operating four vessels. The deal was signed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey on July 7. The ships, using a Dutch design, will be constructed in UK shipyards in collaboration with Dutch industry. At 160 meters long and weighing 15,000 tonnes, the vessels will carry troops, vehicles, equipment, and drones, with flight decks accommodating current and next-generation autonomous systems. UK Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis stated the partnership strengthens defense and deterrence as NATO allies and Joint Expeditionary Force partners. The agreement also includes increased collaboration between the Royal Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy in training, deployment, and operations, as well as plans to protect undersea infrastructure and address emerging security challenges.
Naval TechnologyUK and Netherlands sign £2.4 billion deal for new amphibious transport ships
The UK and Netherlands have signed a £2.4 billion agreement to build a new fleet of amphibious transport ships, with each nation operating four of the 15,000-tonne vessels. The deal was signed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten on July 7 during a NATO leaders meeting in Ankara. The ships, based on a Dutch design, will be built in UK shipyards alongside Dutch industry, supporting hundreds of high-skilled UK jobs. At 160 meters long, they will transport troops, vehicles, and equipment including drones, with flight decks designed for current and future long-range drones and autonomous systems. The agreement restores a dedicated amphibious fleet for the Royal Navy following the retirement of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark in late 2024. The first ship is expected to enter service in the 2030s, and the partnership builds on over 50 years of UK-Netherlands military cooperation. The deal also follows a recent agreement with Norway for five Type 26 frigates built in UK yards.
UK Defence JournalUK and Netherlands Sign £2.4 Billion Deal for New Amphibious Warships Built in British Shipyards
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten signed a £2.4 billion agreement on July 7, 2026, during a NATO leaders' meeting in Ankara, for the construction of a new fleet of amphibious transport ships. Each nation will operate four 15,000-tonne vessels, built in UK shipyards to a Dutch design. The 160-meter-long ships will transport troops, vehicles, and drones, with flight decks for long-range autonomous systems. The deal restores a dedicated amphibious capability for the Royal Navy after the retirement of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark in 2024. The first ship is expected to enter service in the 2030s, supporting hundreds of UK jobs and strengthening NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) cooperation. The partnership builds on over 50 years of UK-Netherlands military integration and follows a similar agreement with Norway for Type 26 frigates.
UK Defence JournalUK and Netherlands Sign £2.4 Billion Deal for Next-Gen Amphibious Ships
The UK and Netherlands have signed a £2.4 billion agreement to build eight next-generation, 15,000-ton amphibious transport ships optimized for hybrid drone warfare. Based on a Dutch design, the ships will be built in UK shipyards alongside Dutch industry, supporting hundreds of high-skilled UK jobs. Each nation will operate four vessels, forming the backbone of a strengthened UK-Netherlands amphibious force. The ships, at 160 meters long, will transport troops, vehicles, and drones, with flight decks designed for current and future long-range drones and autonomous systems. The partnership, signed by Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Rob Jetten during a NATO leaders meeting in Ankara, builds on over 50 years of maritime cooperation and aims to accelerate industrial and military cooperation on autonomous technology, strengthen NATO, and protect critical undersea infrastructure.
Naval NewsBritain Drops Multi-Role Strike Ship Plans, Opts for Joint Amphibious Fleet with Netherlands
The United Kingdom has abandoned its bespoke Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) program, citing excessive complexity and misalignment with the evolving UK Commando Force concept. Instead, the Defence Investment Plan commits the UK to join the Netherlands-led Amphibious Transport Ship programme, creating a joint amphibious fleet. Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis confirmed the shift, emphasizing investments in attack drones, high-speed boats, and amphibious assault ships. The move is part of the broader Future Commando Force transformation, backed by over £500 million, reorienting Royal Marines operations toward NATO's northern flank and the Arctic. The Netherlands is already planning six Amphibious Transport Ships to replace its Rotterdam-class landing platform docks and Holland-class patrol vessels, with deliveries starting in 2032. Integrating British requirements will deepen cooperation beyond previous subsystem-level collaboration.
UK Defence JournalUK commits to new assault ships in joint effort with Dutch
The UK Ministry of Defence announced a commitment to build a new class of larger amphibious transport ships to support Commando Force operations, with the goal of forming a combined fleet with the Netherlands. The vessels are part of a broader Future Commando Force program receiving over £500 million, also including high-speed insertion craft and uncrewed systems. Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis tied the spending directly to Commandos' equipment needs. The announcement follows the retirement of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark in 2025 and prior collaboration under Project CATHERINA, which shifted from a joint ship design to interoperability work due to diverging requirements. The Netherlands is planning six similar vessels for delivery from 2032. The refreshed Defence Investment Plan is expected before a NATO summit in Ankara in July 2026.
UK Defence JournalUK commits to new assault ships in joint effort with Dutch
The UK Ministry of Defence has announced investment in a new class of larger amphibious transport ships to support Commando Force operations, with the goal of forming a combined fleet with the Netherlands. The vessels are part of the broader Future Commando Force programme, weighted towards the High North and backed by over £500 million. New Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis, appointed in late June 2026, has prioritized equipment for frontline units, including new lethal strike drones, high-speed boats, and uncrewed systems. The announcement comes after the retirement of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark in 2025 and the earlier shelving of a joint Anglo-Dutch hull design project (Project CATHERINA) in 2024 due to divergent requirements. The Netherlands is separately planning six Amphibious Transport Ship vessels (from 2032). The combined fleet aims to align both national programmes under a shared design philosophy for moving marine raiding forces in NATO's northern and Baltic approaches. The refreshed Defence Investment Plan is expected before NATO leaders meet in Ankara on 7-8 July 2026.
UK Defence JournalUK commits to new assault ships in joint effort with Dutch
The UK Ministry of Defence has announced plans for a new class of larger amphibious transport ships to support Commando Force operations, with the goal of forming a combined fleet with the Netherlands. The vessels are part of a wider Future Commando Force program, now focused on the High North, backed by over £500 million. New Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis stated the investment includes lethal strike drones, high-speed boats, and amphibious ships to keep commandos ahead of adversaries. The announcement aims to rebuild an amphibious fleet thinned by the retirement of HMS Albion and Bulwark in 2025. The UK and Netherlands have cooperated in the UK/NL Amphibious Force for over 50 years, and despite abandoning a joint-hull design in 2024 due to divergent requirements and budgets, they now seek closer alignment. The Netherlands is planning six new amphibious ships from 2032. The updated Defence Investment Plan is expected before the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8.
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