The UK and the Netherlands have signed a £2.4 billion agreement to jointly procure a new class of amphibious transport ships.
British and Dutch forces are set to be equipped with new amphibious transport ships under a new maritime partnership signed on July 7, 2026. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Rob Jetten signed the agreement during a meeting of NATO leaders in Ankara.
Based on a Dutch design, the ships will be built in UK shipyards alongside the Dutch industry. The new ships will form the backbone of a strengthened UK-Netherlands amphibious force, with each nation operating four vessels.
At 160 metres long and 15,000 tonnes, the ships will transport troops, vehicles and equipment, including drones, wherever they are needed. Their flight decks will be designed to operate current and future long-range drones and autonomous systems, supporting the Royal Navy’s transition to a hybrid Navy.
The partnership will also accelerate industrial and military cooperation on autonomous and uncrewed technology, boosting the defense industry in both nations while helping stay ahead of new threats.
“Combining the UK’s industrial expertise with The Netherlands’ design and sea-faring experience to deliver first-rate platforms for our elite amphibious forces, this partnership will strengthen NATO,” Starmer said.
“We are building an even stronger amphibious force with the Netherlands, strengthening our defence and deterrence as close NATO allies and JEF partners,” Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE stated.
“Our forces will operate the same equipment and deploy on exercises together, so if they need to, we can fight and win together. In close partnership, we are responding to the threats we face to make our nations and Europe safer.”
The Royal Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy will increasingly train, deploy, and operate together more effectively, while improving NATO’s ability to respond quickly to crises. Operating the same amphibious transport ship is key to the integration of both Navies, as well as the future drone and uncrewed tech that will be developed between the two nations, it was highlighted.
The partnership comes as the UK is investing billions in the hybrid navy through the Defence Investment Plan, which will see the Royal Navy transform into a more lethal and technologically advanced hybrid force.