Ministry of Defense Announces Purchase of New Missile Systems
The Dutch Ministry of Defense has announced plans to enhance the capabilities of the Marine Corps with the acquisition of 11 Hydra 70 70mm missile launchers. This news was published on the official website of the country’s Ministry of Defense.
+ Click here to watch the video of the 70mm missiles in use in Ukraine
According to State Secretary Christoph van der Maat, the project will be implemented between 2024 and 2028, with the first systems expected to be delivered in 2026. The total project cost is estimated between 50 and 250 million euros, covering the missile launchers and upgrade kits, while the missiles themselves will be taken from the Ministry of Defense’s stockpiles.
Improving the Capabilities of the Marine Corps
Currently, the primary means of destruction for the Dutch Marine Corps is a 120mm mortar, with a range of up to 8 kilometers. The introduction of light and high-precision missile weapons is expected to complement this system, offering greater accuracy.
The missile launchers with laser guidance systems are expected to be effective in electronic warfare conditions and in all weather conditions, overcoming obstacles that other types of weapons face.
The new missile systems are expected to be light enough to be used on various mobile platforms and vehicles of the Marine Corps.
Each launcher should contain at least four missiles and have a system capable of identifying and tracking static and moving targets, both ground and air, at any time of the day, using infrared sensors.
Possible Systems to Be Acquired
Although the exact type of system planned for purchase has not been announced, the description suggests that American APKWS missile modernization kits and Fletcher launchers, both actively used in Ukraine, might be acquired.
The APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System), a project by BAE Systems, turns the unguided 70mm Hydra aerial projectile into a high-precision missile weapon. Based on this missile, the VAMPIRE (Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment) missile system was created, integrated by L3Harris Technologies, capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 5,000 meters.
This initiative represents a significant step in the modernization of the Dutch armed forces, aiming to increase their effectiveness and responsiveness in various operational scenarios.
Videos: Reproduction Twitter @clashreport. Source: Dutch Ministry of Defense. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
