{"id":24666,"date":"2024-09-14T00:03:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T21:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=24666"},"modified":"2024-09-12T21:44:47","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T18:44:47","slug":"netherlands-to-spend-1-5-billion-on-additional-f-35-jets-tanks-and-other-military-equipment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/netherlands-to-spend-1-5-billion-on-additional-f-35-jets-tanks-and-other-military-equipment\/","title":{"rendered":"Netherlands to spend $1.5 billion on additional F-35 jets, tanks, and other military equipment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

5 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Netherlands is set to revamp its military by reinstating a tank battalion, acquiring additional F-35 fighter jets, and enhancing its naval fleet with anti-submarine frigates. The move comes as part of a broader effort to bolster its defense capabilities in light of increasing global security threats, especially following Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dutch government announced a substantial defense budget increase of $2.65 billion annually, with $1.66 billion earmarked specifically for \u201ccombat power.\u201d This will bring the country\u2019s total defense spending to around $26.53 billion a year, nearly double its 2022 budget. The policy shift, outlined in a defense paper last week, signals the Netherlands\u2019 growing recognition of the need for a more robust and prepared military force capable of deterring potential threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The defense paper highlights the necessity of preparing for potential Russian aggression, including the possibility of an attack on NATO allies such as Lithuania or Poland. State Secretary of Defence Gijs Tuinman emphasized that the Netherlands must be ready for a “war of necessity” rather than the \u201cwars of choice\u201d that dominated recent decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe ruthless aggression shows that an attack on the NATO alliance is no longer unthinkable,\u201d said Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans during the policy presentation. \u201cThe Netherlands must step up to protect our security. We have to get to work to deter our enemies, guard NATO\u2019s external borders, and prevent further war in Europe. We have no time to lose in this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brekelmans also noted that while the Netherlands appears to be at peace, it is in a \u201cgray zone\u201d where the country faces daily threats to its digital infrastructure, including attacks on systems, companies, ports, and power grids, as well as continuous espionage efforts. He warned that the country must be prepared to defend its national territory and contribute to NATO\u2019s collective defense.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Leopard<\/a>
Bundeswehr Leopard 2A7 tanks leased to the Netherlands Armed Forces during joint exercises in Lithuania in October 2021. (Image Credit: Andy Meier\/Nato\u2019s Enhanced Forward Presence in Lithuania\u200b)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

According to Dutch Chief of Defense General Otto Eichelsheim, the reforms represent a significant transformation for the Dutch armed forces. \u201cThis is not just a small change. It is a turning point in the history of the Dutch armed forces, and it requires a fundamentally different way of thinking. Instead of meticulously preparing and planning every single mission, shortly our military, and our civilians must simply be ready every day, permanently ready for a large-scale conflict. Because deterrence only works if we are credible,\u201d Eichelsheim remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government also plans to enshrine a minimum defense spending of 2% of the country\u2019s gross domestic product (GDP) into law. The 2024 defense budget has already been increased to $23.66 billion, equivalent to 1.95% of GDP, up from $17.03 billion in 2023 and \u20ac12.9 billion (US$14.26 billion) in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of its military modernization, the Netherlands will recreate a tank battalion, marking a significant shift after selling its last Leopard 2 tanks in 2011 due to budget constraints. Since 2015, the country has been leasing 18 tanks from Germany but is now expected to purchase around 50 Leopard 2 A8 tanks. The annual cost of maintaining a tank battalion ranges between $287 million and $347.5 million, according to a report to parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the Army\u2019s Boxer armored personnel carriers will be outfitted with heavier cannons and anti-tank weaponry to enhance infantry firepower. \u201cThe armed forces must grow \u2013 in manpower, resources, and in weapon systems,\u201d Brekelmans said. \u201cWe will have to innovate, to constantly stay one step ahead of our adversaries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Royal Netherlands Navy will also receive two more anti-submarine warfare frigates and additional NH90 helicopters. Last year, the government ordered two anti-submarine frigates for $2.1 billion and is now prioritizing further underwater defense measures to safeguard subsea infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Dutch<\/a>
Dutch NH90 helicopter coming in for a landing on a ship. (Image Credit: Ministerie van Defensie)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Moreover, the Netherlands plans to expand its fleet of F-35 fighter jets by ordering six more aircraft, adding to the 52 already on the roster. This increase is expected to improve operational readiness and allow for more sustained missions. Brekelmans emphasized the importance of maintaining long-term combat readiness, citing lessons from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the major challenges the Dutch military faces is the slow delivery of equipment and weapons. To address this, the government will invest $1.1 billion to enhance domestic defense production capacity. Tuinman noted that a strong local defense industry is critical for deterrence, as the Netherlands aims to strengthen its defense-industrial base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With these ambitious plans, the Netherlands is positioning itself as a stronger NATO ally, ready to face the increasing complexities of global conflict and regional security challenges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Netherlands is set to revamp its military by reinstating a tank battalion, acquiring additional F-35 fighter jets, and enhancing its naval fleet with anti-submarine frigates. The move comes as part of a broader effort to bolster its defense capabilities in light of increasing global security threats<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24687,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[62,1],"tags":[256,6,357,252,286,5,59,219,20,113],"class_list":["post-24666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","category-news","tag-aircraft","tag-defense","tag-europe","tag-f-35","tag-fighter-jet","tag-military","tag-nato","tag-netherlands","tag-russia","tag-security"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Netherlands-F-35-fighter-aircraft.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-6pQ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24666","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24666"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24666\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24689,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24666\/revisions\/24689"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}