The US State Department has approved the possible sale of up to 175 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles to the Netherlands.
The estimated $2.19-billion sale includes 163 Tomahawk Block Vs, 12 Block IVs, 10 Tactical Tomahawk weapons control systems, and related equipment and support services.
“The proposed sale will improve the Netherland’s capability to meet current and future threats by utilizing long-range, conventional surface-to-surface missiles with significant standoff range that can neutralize growing threats,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency wrote.
RTX Corporation is the sale’s principal contractor and there are known offset requirements.
Greater Range
The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is deployed from surface warships and submarines for long-range land attack warfare.
The Block IV (TLAM-E) was first inducted into service by the US Navy in 2004.
It features a 1,000-pound (453-kilogram) unitary warhead and has a range of 900 nautical miles(1,667 kilometers/1,038 miles).
The missile can be reprogrammed mid-air via two-way satellite communications.
It can be directed to strike at any of 15 pre-programmed targets or redirected to Global Positioning System target coordinates.
The missile can hover over a target and provide battle-damage assessment though an on-board camera.
Block V
Meanwhile, the Block V features upgraded navigation and communication and in-flight targeting.
Introduced in 2021, the missile has two variants: the maritime Block Va and the land-attack Block Vb.
The Block Va features a new seeker to strike moving surface targets while the Block Vb is equipped with a joint multi-effects warhead to take out more diverse land targets.
Test-Firing From Dutch Warship
Earlier in March, a Tomahawk missile was test-fired from a De Zeven Provincien-class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The effort was intended to help the navy integrate the missile onto the frigate class.
“With the Tomahawk long-range weapons, the navy can eliminate targets deep inland from the sea,” the Dutch Ministry of Defence wrote in a press release.
“Think of command centres, anti-aircraft installations and enemy units.
The missiles have a range of more than 1,000 kilometres (621 miles). The weapon gives the Royal Navy extra combat power. This contributes to the deterrence of potential opponents.”
Amsterdam planned on acquiring the missile as part of a larger procurement in 2023, which included the Israeli PULS (Precise and Universal Launch System) system and the JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range).
