The United Kingdom has announced it will invest in a new class of amphibious transport ships to support Commando Force operations as part of a plan to establish a combined fleet with the Netherlands.
According to the UK Defence Journal, the new vessels are part of an investment package worth more than £500 million, which also includes attack drones and high-speed boats.
The initiative is part of the transformation of Britain’s Commando Force, whose operations will increasingly focus on the High North, a region considered strategically important to NATO.
According to UK Defence Minister Dan Jarvis, the goal is to ensure the Commandos have the equipment needed to face modern threats and maintain an operational advantage over potential adversaries.
“We are investing in new lethal attack drones, high-speed boats and amphibious transport ships to give our Commandos the equipment they need to stay ahead of our adversaries and keep us safe,” he said.
The program also aims to rebuild the Royal Navy’s amphibious capability, which was reduced following the retirement of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark in 2025. It remains unclear whether the new initiative will officially replace the previous MRSS (Multi-Role Support Ship) program, which envisioned up to six vessels to renew Britain’s amphibious fleet.
The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have maintained a joint amphibious force for more than five decades. In 2023, the two countries explored developing a common ship but abandoned the idea of a single design due to differing operational requirements and budget constraints.
Cooperation has since shifted toward interoperability and shared systems, including landing craft, cranes, dock doors and propulsion systems. The new announcement now signals closer alignment between the two nations’ naval programs.
The Netherlands is already planning to build six amphibious transport ships to replace its current Rotterdam-class vessels, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2032.
The British plan is expected to be detailed in the new Defence Investment Strategy, which is due to be released ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for July 7–8.
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Photos: BMT | Royal Navy. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
