News item | 25-01-2024 | 16:22
Defense is making preparations to accelerate the purchase of more ammunition. This concerns both small caliber and high-tech ammunition for air defense, for example. This increases the ammo supply. State Secretary Christophe van der Maat wrote this in a letter to the House of Representatives.
Due to the support for Ukraine and the expansion of the armed forces, there is an urgent need for more ammunition. Not only for training and peace missions, but also for the possible defense of Dutch territory.
The demand for ammunition on the global market is increasing rapidly due to the current security situation. NATO has also decided to increase strategic ammunition stocks. Action is therefore needed now. To replenish supplies, Defense is taking short- and long-term measures. First of all, additional orders must be placed within existing contracts.
Order together
In the long term, the ammunition stock can grow through more intensive cooperation with allies. The Netherlands wants to jointly place large orders with NATO partners. Manufacturers can then purchase more production capacity and deliver faster for a better price. An example of such cooperation is the order for light anti-tank missiles. The Netherlands signed the contract for the purchase of these Very Short Range Anti-Tank (VSRAT) systems in mid-2022, together with 13 NATO allies.
Due to economies of scale, the first rockets were delivered a year earlier than agreed. When purchasing additional ammunition, Defense pays attention to price, quality, but also to production security and security of supply. In some cases a higher price will be paid.
Defense also looks at the way in which ammunition is purchased. Attention is paid to tendering, stockpiling and planning. By revising these processes, Defense also offers the industry a long-term perspective.