Netherlands wants to develop an alternative to the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile.

The Netherlands has begun laying the groundwork for a domestic long-range cruise missile that draws on the role and capability of the U.S. Tomahawk, citing a growing demand for such weapons globally and their limited availability on the international market.

As reported by BNR Nieuwsradio on November 20, 2025, the Netherlands is challenging its defense industry to develop a national long-range cruise missile inspired by the U.S. Tomahawk, with State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman urging Dutch companies to design a domestic precision weapon that drones alone cannot replace for deterrence or distant strike missions. He explained that the armed forces need a capability produced on Dutch soil because foreign suppliers cannot guarantee timely deliveries, due to a rising demand for such weapons internationally. Tuinman said industry could submit an initial design within six months, enabling the Ministry of Defense to consider a multi-year procurement.
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Tuinman explained that he wants a Dutch alternative that is significantly cheaper, produced quickly, and available in large quantities, but without copying the U.S. Tomahawk because it is extremely specialized and costly, making direct imitation unrealistic. (Picture source: US Navy)

Speaking during the NEDS defense exhibition in Rotterdam, Dutch State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman explained that the armed forces need a capability produced on Dutch soil because foreign suppliers cannot guarantee timely deliveries in a crowded global missile market. This new national effort emerges at a moment when several European states are seeking rapid access to long-range munitions, leaving the Netherlands concerned about its reliance on foreign suppliers. Tuinman highlighted that a Dutch-made weapon would allow continuous updates and fast innovation cycles. He also linked this initiative to the broader need to strengthen national industrial capacity in defense planning.

Tuinman said the domestic missile is needed because the Netherlands requires long-range precision weapons for deterrence and for missions where drones cannot deliver the necessary effect or reach. He noted that demand for such systems is high while the international market is “almost full”, which prevents smaller countries from acquiring new missiles quickly when situations evolve. Dutch companies, he argued, already hold enough expertise to build such a system if they cooperate, and he believes they could present a concrete proposal within six months. He stated that developing the weapon domestically would reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and enable faster industrial response. He added that work on the project should start now because long-range strike capability is becoming increasingly important in Europe.

If industry succeeds in presenting a design within six months, Tuinman said he is prepared to commit the Ministry of Defense to purchasing the new weapon for several years to give manufacturers stable production demand. He explained that this Dutch system will not attempt to copy the American Tomahawk because the U.S. missile is extremely specialized and very expensive, making direct imitation unrealistic. Instead, he wants a budget version that is significantly cheaper, produced quickly, and available in large quantities to meet operational needs. He added that such a weapon must be simple enough for mass production but capable of delivering accurate long-range strikes. Tuinman also said that companies with relevant expertise already exist in the Netherlands.

While working toward a domestic missile, the Netherlands is also moving ahead with the acquisition of U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles to strengthen its maritime strike capability. Approved on April 25, 2025, the corresponding Foreign Military Sales package includes up to 163 Tomahawk Block V missiles, 12 Block IV missiles, Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control Systems, telemetry missiles, satellite data terminals, secure communication systems, training devices, spares, and logistics support valued at about $2.19 billion. These missiles will be integrated into the four De Zeven Provinciën-class air defense and command frigates through the Mark 41 vertical launch system. In March 2025, Zr.Ms. De Ruyter carried out the first Dutch Tomahawk test firing off Norfolk with U.S. Navy cooperation, confirming technical integration. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2028.

However, on June 17, 2025, Tuinman also confirmed that Tomahawks will not be deployed on Dutch submarines because the specific UGM-109 submarine-launched variant is no longer in production. Reviving that model would require reopening manufacturing lines, reintegrating systems, and conducting extensive testing, which would be impractical for a small procurement. Instead, the Netherlands has joined the European program developing the Joint Strike Missile – Submarine Launched, which is based on the existing Joint Strike Missile and adapted for torpedo-tube launch. The JSM-SL will equip the future Orka-class submarines and is expected to be integrated around 2032. It will offer a range of more than 300 kilometers, a high subsonic sea-skimming profile, and guidance systems combining GPS, inertial navigation, imaging infrared, and passive radio frequency sensors.

Created during the late Cold War as a long-range cruise missile launched from ships and submarines, the early versions of the Tomahawk included nuclear and conventional variants, as well as ground-launched and cluster variants, later removed under arms control agreements such as the INF Treaty. It measures about 5.5 meters long, 0.52 meters in diameter, has a wingspan of about 2.67 meters, and weighs around 1,300 kilograms depending on the variant. After launch, a solid-fuel booster accelerates the missile before a Williams F107 turbofan engine takes over for sustained flight at roughly 880 to 890 kilometers per hour, while its low-altitude, terrain-following profile reduces the detection by radar and allows it to approach targets from stand-off distances. Over time, the Tomahawk shifted from multiple mission types toward primarily conventional land-attack roles, with the Block V family incorporating updated electronics and communication systems.

Typically carrying a warhead of about 450 kilograms, the Tomahawk missile also possesses a guidance system combining inertial navigation, GPS updates, Terrain Contour Matching, and Digital Scene Matching Area Correlation, which allows the missile to compare real-time sensor data with stored maps and images to stay on course. These layered methods give the missile effective accuracy even if satellite signals are disrupted or unavailable. Later variants include a two-way data link that makes in-flight retargeting and mission updates possible, giving operators flexibility to adjust to changing battlefield conditions. Moreover, some models can loiter before receiving final targeting instructions.

Tomahawk missiles have been used in several major operations, including the opening strikes of the 1991 Gulf War, repeated campaigns in the Balkans during the 1990s, and later actions in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, where long-range precision attacks were required. These engagements demonstrated the missile’s ability to strike strategic targets from significant distances while allowing naval forces to remain outside high-threat areas. Today, this cruise missile is operated by the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan, while several countries are preparing to integrate it into their fleets as part of broader modernization plans. As such missiles become a core requirement for contemporary maritime forces, Gijs Tuinman has stated that if the Netherlands succeeds in developing its own domestic alternative, it would also be produced for export, since a missile meeting Dutch standards would also likely meet the requirements of countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Greece.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.