United Kingdom and Netherlands Agree to Jointly Build Eight Amphibious Transport Ships

The United Kingdom and the Netherlands agreed to jointly develop and build eight amphibious transport ships, with each country to operate four vessels. The British government announced the £2.4 billion ($3.2 billion) deal on July 7, 2026, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended the NATO Summit in Turkey. The new landing platform docks will measure 525 feet long and displace 15,000 tonnes.

They will be built in U.K. shipyards alongside Dutch industry and are expected to enter service from the early 2030s. The program supersedes the earlier Multi-Role Strike Ship initiative. The ships will replace capabilities lost after the U.K.

Ministry of Defense withdrew HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark from service in 2025 and decommissioned HMS Ocean in 2018. The Royal Marines currently rely on three Bay class landing ship docks, while the Royal Netherlands Navy operates two Rotterdam class LPDs and one Karel Doorman class vessel. U.K.

Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis stated the partnership strengthens defense and deterrence as NATO and JEF partners. The Royal Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy will increasingly train, deploy, and operate together due to the commonality of the landing platform docks. The vessels will support flight operations with current and future drones and autonomous systems.

The U.K. government confirmed plans for future cooperation on drone and uncrewed technology between the two nations, consistent with a defense investment plan that allocates more than £5 billion over four years for such capabilities.