After around 500 hours of successful testing, the Royal Netherlands Navy has officially put the new Alunaut boats into service. These vessels replace the aging Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIB) 700, which had become outdated.
In total, 20 units were acquired in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence. Of these, 12 were assigned to the Royal Netherlands Navy, six to the Koninklijke Marechaussee — responsible for maritime border control and surveillance — and two were delivered to the Belgian Navy.
+ Man arrested for pointing laser at Marine One helicopter with Trump on board
Operational Roles
Just like the RHIB 700, the new Alunaut boats can be deployed independently or in support of other vessels. Their main roles include transporting personnel and equipment, as well as conducting patrol missions.
For the Marechaussee, the boats will be used for boarding and inspecting other ships, strengthening maritime traffic control and border security. To improve mobility, the corps also received six new trailers, enabling rapid transportation of the vessels over land.
Manufacturing and Delivery
Construction was handled by the Estonian company Alunaut OÜ, specialized in aluminum boats for both military and civilian use. The first units have already been delivered and put into operation, with full integration into naval activities expected in the coming months.
Strategic Importance
According to the Navy, the introduction of the Alunaut boats is part of the fleet’s modernization process, which is undergoing a series of renewals. While considered a relatively small-scale project within this effort, the acquisition of these vessels directly contributes to the operational continuity of naval forces — an essential factor for military readiness.
Source and images: Defensie.nl. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
