Netherlands procures long-range anti-tank missiles

The Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) is procuring long-range anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) to replace medium-range ATGMs starting in 2026, State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman told parliament on 2 September.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' Spike-MR (Gill) ATGMs in Dutch service for nearly 25 years have reached the end of their technical and operational lifetime, the MoD said on its website on 2 September. The Netherlands selected Spike-MR in 2002, according to Janes Land Warfare Platforms.

The Dutch MoD reported increasing technical failure rates with the system, which it said is difficult to maintain and develop further. It added that the system's electro-optical targeting and guidance equipment is outdated.

The Dutch MoD is seeking a non-line-of-sight ATGM that can destroy enemy combat vehicles at a range of up to 5,000 m, with course correction possible in flight and under fire. It plans to procure Spike LR2s from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, with the contract signing expected by the end of October. Dutch Spike-MR launchers are to be replaced in four years, with planning for the last systems to arrive in the first half of 2028.

Standardisation was an important consideration in the Dutch decision, with new command and launch units able to fire Spike missiles from other European countries that operate them, for example Germany, which has been procuring the ATGM since 2020. Other operators are NATO members Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Spain, and non-alliance country Switzerland. Another NATO member, Canada, is procuring Spike LR2.

Spike LR2 has a range of 5,000 m, double that of Spike-MR, according to the Dutch MoD.