The United States has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to the Netherlands involving Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles and associated equipment, valued at approximately $2.19 billion (£1.76 billion), the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 25 April 2025.
According to the official notice, the Netherlands has requested to purchase up to “one hundred sixty-three (163) Tomahawk Block V All Up Rounds (AURs); twelve (12) Tomahawk Block IV AURs; up to ten (10) Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control Systems (TTWCS); and up to two (2) Tomahawk Block IV telemetry missiles.”
The package will also include satellite communication terminals, secure broadcast systems, communications security devices, maintenance support, training, spares, and other logistical elements.
The DSCA said the proposed sale would “support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”
In terms of military value, officials noted: “The proposed sale will improve the Netherlands’ capability to meet current and future threats by utilising long-range, conventional surface-to-surface missiles with significant standoff range that can neutralise growing threats.” It was also stated that the Netherlands “will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
The DSCA emphasised that the proposed transfer “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.” RTX Corporation, based in Tucson, Arizona, will act as the principal contractor for the deal. Offset requirements are expected, but specific details have not yet been disclosed.
On operational matters, the agency clarified: “Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Netherlands,” and confirmed there would be “no adverse impact on U.S. defence readiness.”
Officials also underlined that the pricing represents an upper estimate: “The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.”
Although the Congressional notification is an important procedural step, it does not finalise the sale, and contract negotiations will follow subject to funding and final agreement.
Hopefully we purchase a good supply of FC/ASW, our long range missile stores are starting to look a bit bare.
Why?
In this climate, Europe should be taking necessary steps to avoid buying American hardware where at all possible. There are other weapons available to achieve a similar effect.
Agreed. I can only imagine that this is a process that began last year and had too much inertia.
It isn’t an inked order as yet – the article makes that clear.
It could just be a negotiating tool?
Well it was Western Europe that voided the contract.
That said 1956 Suez. Did it made UK stopped buying American?
What other inertial, terrain following (western) missiles fly a 500kg warhead 1800km+ ?
None
They are mad, bonkers, stupid. Nothing the yanks sell any of us can be trusted period, we would be better off buying russian or Chinese. Pathetic attempt to butter up Putin’s glove puppet, a man so stupid and so broken that he thinks Ukraine should give up all it’s land, it’s future and it’s money… Trump is an arsehole and when a country can elect, and continue to support, such an arsehole, a glove puppet on the hand of our enemy we should not have anything more to do with them, nothing
If the Americans do nothing but slag off the Russians. The Russians will never come to the negotiating table. And that’s the only way to end the war. It’s not pretty. It’s unbelievably frustrating. But negotiating is the only way.
Oh – and that is why the Americans must refer to Zelensky as a dictator, and not Putin? Please, bore off if you’re just going to try to validate a morally bankrupt Trump administration. You’ve come to the wrong place for that – people here know their behind from their elbow.
Zelensky was Russians oligarchs lapdog for years before he became president! Are you going to white wash that history too?? He had Azov openly Nazis in his cabinet too! Wait we will pretend none of that which for years even the BBC reported on ever took place and he is now a Churchill? 😂 The UK always had Russia obsession that Germany and France western Europe and the EU and US had not which nobody understands. Our pensioners and disabled are getting cuts due to Zelensky? Give me a break ! We are losing the US due to Zelensky? Nobody cares about Ukraine in the UK except our government
Sounds like you don’t live in the UK, do you live close to Jon in MK by any chance?
Sorry James, need to work on your typed English, have a quick chat with your team leader and try to sound more UK based this time, good lad.
Excuse me? Who are you speaking for? I couldn’t give a FF who controls this or that piece of Eastern European mud. My only concern is that the UK doesn’t get dragged into another European sxxt show, yet again, at hideous expense. Its a European problem, they can sort it out.
That’s a big investment
So these will be going into 8 platforms
4 will be their new black sword submarines ( barracuda variant)
4 will be De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate..the frigates have 40 mk41 smith at present 32 SM2 and 32 ESSM.. as these are air defence frigates to many tomahawks will impact on this role..
163 missiles for these 8 platforms would be plenty…
Not sure what the other two control units would be for ? Platform wise.
The new ASWF Frigates they are building in collaboration with Belgium, originally they would only have quad packed ESM in their 2 MK41 VLS, so this adds an option.
Combat losses?
The US discontinued making TTL versions and the required capsules in which they are housed several years ago. I am lead to believe (not sure how correct that is) that they are restarting production of said components. That is the only way the Dutch could utilise them on their new SSKs.
Europe giving a 2Bn handout to USA oh dear
US sources suggest the flyaway cost of a Block V Tomahawk as $2m, but Netherlands are paying over $10m per missile in this contract, which isn’t a small contract. Either defence inflation is getting ridiculous or integration / support costs are getting ridiculous.
Sorry just for clarity, that $2m was as of 2022, so only 3 years ago.
Forced to agree, apparently extremely aggressive pricing. Perhaps Uncle Sugar is seeking to address EU trade imbalance, one FMS contract at a time. 🤔😳😱
I looked at the values in the article and thought a zero had gone astray somewhere?
All the support infrastructure has to be purchased and integrated. The TLAM is a system. You don’t just buy the missile and hit a red button.
I understand that, as my initial post suggests, but does it really cost $1.5bn to integrate it on 8 platforms and set-up support infrasstructure? That’s insane money.
Ukp10milliom per missile….wooozza
Solid purchase, while not perfect proven and support is robust.
To hit targets 1000km away, whilst evading GBAD locations would require some pretty substantial support assets. Do they ( or the UK with our TLAM) possess that ability without US support? Our Rivet Joint are US , we require GPS access for our weaponry.
To be truly independent on FCASW what would you need? Satellite surveillance, ELINT and assets to locate S400 and other SAM sites, and post strike risk assessment.
Does their $10m per missile cost include all that?
Tomahawk is a cruise missile as far as I’m aware so flies very low avoiding air defence and likely reads ground topography so will find target with or without gps. Please correct if I’m wrong. Uk also announced inertia type guided mechanism project for future. So let the Americans turn off the gps , of course we could still use Russian gps am I correct? Think I had that option on my personal location beacon.
Storm Shadow/Scalp can operate independently of GPS. It uses terrain recognition for navigation which is integrated with an inertial navigation system. It does also have a GPS feed that significantly improves its navigational accuracy, which gives it pin point accuracy on targets, i.e. allows a following Storm Shadow to dive down the hole the previous one made. However, the imaging infrared seeker along with the other navigational aids will still get it to the target, especially in GPS denied areas.
Silly question..but what does the term “All Up Round” (AUR) refer too here?
I think it means the missile, along with its canister and all of the stuff that needs to accompany a single missile so that it is ready to launch.
Like selling people the whole bullet, propellant, case and linkages together for a machine gun rather than making them buy it separately.