A look at the Defence news 22 – 28 July
The crew of HNLMS Tromp had an exceptional experience last week. The air defence and command frigate carried out a missile strike to sink a decommissioned US ship in Hawaiian waters. The strike was part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
Choice for Orka-class submarines final
The claims of German shipyard thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS) have been rejected. Last week, the Court of The Hague ruled to that effect in the case brought by tkMS against the preliminary decision of the Netherlands Ministry of Defence to award the contract for the construction of four submarines to France’s Naval Group.
Germany and the Netherlands to improve support of troops
Germany and the Netherlands intend to strengthen their joint support of troops. This was reason enough for Lieutenant General André Bodemann, Commander of Bundeswehr Homeland Defence Command, to travel to Utrecht to discuss the more efficient movement of troops with Lieutenant General Jan-Willem Maas, Commander of Joint Support Command. Participation in a major joint exercise was also discussed.
Promised Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
According to Netherlands Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans, 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks that the Netherlands and Denmark purchased for Ukraine will be delivered to the war-torn country this summer. The main battle tanks were refurbished and tested over the past few months.
European F-16 training centre delivers first pilots
The European F-16 training centre (EFTC) in Romania has delivered its first graduates. The Romanian pilots in question are now combat-ready and can be deployed on operations. The Netherlands played a key role in setting up the EFTC and is also the supplier of F-16s to the training centre. A total of 18 will be made available.