Story perspectives

UK, Netherlands Seal £2.4bn Deal for Eight Amphibious Ships

7/10/2026

Summary

UK, Netherlands Sign

The UK and the Netherlands signed a £2.4 billion NATO-Ankara deal to build eight amphibious ships in Britain.
Each 160-metre, 15,000-tonne ship will carry troops, vehicles and drones and have a flight deck for uncrewed systems.
Luke Pollard said the first ship will enter service in the 2030s and be built in UK shipyards.
The programme will use Belfast’s Harland and Wolff yard, create jobs and extend production by fifteen years.

Summary

Starmer Unveils Fleet

Starmer and Jetten said the vessels will serve under the U.K.–Netherlands Amphibious Force.
The LPDs will replace the Dutch Rotterdam-class and Karel Doorman, forming a shared class for navies.
Wildcat helicopters from 847 Naval Air Squadron and Dutch units performed load-lift drills in northern Norway during Clockwork.
The governments said the ships, tied to the £5 billion drone investment plan, will guard undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic and High North.

History

Historical Context

NATO’s 1999 Kosovo campaign exposed a shortage of amphibious lift, prompting the alliance to seek joint solutions. In response, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands expanded defence cooperation, creating a combined amphibious force that will replace their aging Rotterdam-class ships. The partnership strengthens NATO’s high-north deterrence and aligns with broader post-Cold-War moves toward multinational rapid-deployment capabilities.

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UK, Netherlands Sign

The UK and the Netherlands signed a £2.4 billion NATO-Ankara deal to build eight amphibious ships in Britain.
Each 160-metre, 15,000-tonne ship will carry troops, vehicles and drones and have a flight deck for uncrewed systems.
Luke Pollard said the first ship will enter service in the 2030s and be built in UK shipyards.
The programme will use Belfast’s Harland and Wolff yard, create jobs and extend production by fifteen years.

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