The Royal Netherlands Navy has accepted two modified vessels under the service’s landing craft utility (LCU) midlife upgrade project.
The effort was launched in 2023 and covers the refitting of up to four LCUs operational since the 2000s, allowing expanded vehicle and troop transport across the modern battlefield.
Systems from this initiative will be used until the 2030s, according to the Dutch Ministry of Defence, employing advanced engine, weapon and command systems, ballistics protection armor, sanitary and maintenance facilities, and cabins.
Amsterdam noted that this modernization will boost its naval force’s survivability, performance, and flexibility in amphibious and multifunctional deployments.
In addition, the revamp will “strengthen” the role of the Dutch navy within NATO, ensuring tactical landing capabilities are up to date for defending domestic and allied territories.
Throughout their remaining service life, the reconfigured LCUs will cover the logistics of heavy equipment, marine solutions, troop supply, and unmounted personnel between ships and beaches.
Two more ships will be produced under the LCU upgrade effort. Work is being performed by local industry partner De Haas Shipyards at its facility in Rotterdam.
About the Royal Netherlands Navy LCUs
Amsterdam’s current LCUs, designated as Mark II, are the largest vessels of their class developed for amphibious landing tasks.
The Mark II systems were originally the Mark I LCUs adopted by the Dutch Navy until receiving an initial update between 2005 and 2006 to increase their deck size and maximum weight capacity.
A Mark II platform carries up to 130 fully-equipped marines or a mix of military trucks and armored and recovery vehicles.
It is operated by a crew of five and is armed with Browning M2 heavy machine guns.
The vessel has an overall length of 36 meters (118 feet) and an overall payload capacity of 65 tons (65,000 kilograms).
