The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Netherlands covering eight eight-cell MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) Baseline (B/L) VII Strike Length Launcher Modules and related equipment, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 2 June 2023.
The potential sale, worth an estimated USD 110 M (EUR 103 M), has been forwarded to US Congress for approval.
The DSCA stated that the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) “intends to use the MK 41 VLS Baseline (B/L) VII strike-length launcher modules for their new ship class. These modules are intended for ESSM BLK1 and SM-2 capabilities in support of ongoing and emergent operational needs.”
The Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 1 and Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) are surface-to-air missiles.
The RNLN plans to acquire two anti-submarine warfare frigates (ASW-Fs) in a joint programme with the Belgian Naval Component, which will also receive two frigates under the programme. Since each ASW-F is intended to feature a 16-cell Mk 41 VLS, it is likely that this Dutch FMS purchase also covers the VLS systems intended for the Belgian frigates. However, when approached by ESD the DSCA declined to confirm this, while the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) had not responded to questions by the time of publication.
The Dutch MoD stated on 3 April 2023 that the RNLN’s ASW-Fs will be “in service from 2029”. According to the statement, “The first frigate is for the RNLN and should be ready for use in 2029. The second ship goes to Belgium a year later. The two remaining frigates will [be delivered] in the following years for the Netherlands and Belgium, respectively.” The statement added that several contracts for ship sensors and weapons could be expected in mid-2023, with any remaining contracts set to follow later in 2023 or in 2024.
The prime contractor for the MK 41 VLSs under this FMS will be Lockheed Martin.
Peter Felstead
