Prohibitive cost and time overheads associated with re-starting production of the torpedo tube launched (TTL) variant of Tomahawk have led the Netherlands to abandon plans to integrate the US cruise missile in its submarine fleet.
The decision not to equip the Royal Netherlands Navy’s (RNLN’s) current Walrus-class submarines and future Orka-class boats with Tomahawk was disclosed in the latest Defensie Projectenoverzicht (Defence Project Overview) annual report. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is now exploring alternative deep strike options for the Orka-class submarines, which are planned to come into service in the mid-2030s.
The Dutch government in April 2023 announced its intention to procure the Raytheon-built Tomahawk Block V missile through US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to satisfy requirements for a maritime deep strike capability. Alongside plans to fit the vertical launch RGM-109E Tomahawk missile to four De Zeven Provinciën-class air defence and command frigates and a successor Future Air Defender class, the MoD also sought to integrate the TTL variant of the UGM-109E Tomahawk on its Walrus-class submarines and the replacement Orka-class boats.
Raytheon had previously delivered the TTL Tomahawk Block IV variant to both the US Navy and the UK Royal Navy, but this version has been out of production for some years. Defensie Projectenoverzicht 2025, published on 21 May, revealed that the high costs and extended delivery times associated with re-starting the TTL production line had now forced the MoD to abandon its original plan.
“The production [line] for the Tomahawk [version] specific to submarines must be restarted [and] this is accompanied by long production times and major financial risks,” said Defensie Projectenoverzicht 2025. “Both existing and new submarines will therefore not be equipped with Tomahawk.”
Naval News understands that the Dutch MoD approached some other governments to explore the possibility of a larger ‘batch buy’ to share the non-recurring engineering costs for a TTL Tomahawk production restart. However, unable to attract partners, it concluded that the time and cost of its relatively small buy would not be economically viable.
There had been some questions as to whether the US government would have permitted the integration of Tomahawk in the new Orka-class submarines, which will be built by France’s Naval Group. However, a defence source told Naval News that this was not a factor in the decision to axe the submarine plan. Plans to procure and integrate Tomahawk on RNLN surface ships are not affected by the decision. A test launch of a Tomahawk Block IV missile was successfully carried out from the frigate HNLMS De Ruyter in March 2025, and the FMS case for the sale of missiles, the Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control System and associated equipment was approved by the US State Department last month.
A likely alternative deep strike solution for the Orka-class submarines would be MBDA’s Naval cruise missile (MdCN): The land attack cruise missile system is already integrated and qualified with the French Suffren-class SSN (Barracuda program) which serves as parent design for the Dutch Orka-class.
