UK, Netherlands explore opportunities for future littoral strike platf…

UK Minister of State for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge and Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren are pictured signing an MOU on 30 June in Den Helder under which the two countries have agreed to further collaborate on future amphibious exercises and training. (Netherlands MoD)

The UK and the Netherlands have agreed to explore options for a collaborative programme to develop a future littoral strike platform for their respective commando forces.

Both countries are looking to replace a number of ships with a next-generation littoral strike ship over the next decade.

In a statement of intent signed by UK Minister of State for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge and Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren on 30 June the two countries committed to working together to understand respective joint requirements and expected timelines for the UK's Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSSs) and Dutch Landing Platform Dock (LPD) programmes to assess whether a collaborative procurement programme could be mutually beneficial.

The two countries also agreed to further collaboration on future amphibious exercises and training in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the two ministers on the same day, in a revitalisation of the original MOU signed in 1973.

Both agreements were signed onboard the UK Royal Navy's (RN's) amphibious flagship HMS Albion during a commemorative event in Den Helder to mark the 50th anniversary of the Dutch-UK Joint Amphibious Force.