It is one of the most important weapons of Western air forces: the American AIM-120 AMRAAM. This missile was developed in the early 1990s and proved to be particularly effective: before the end of the decade, American pilots had hit several targets with this one advanced medium range air-to-air missile. During the Kosovo war in 1999, Dutch pilot Peter Tankink shot down a Serbian fighter jet, a MiG-29, from a long distance with an AMRAAM. When the projectile hit its target, Tankink noticed a flash on the horizon.
A quarter of a century later, the AMRAAM is so popular that it is hard to find – despite the unit price of more than 1 million dollars. The US Air Force has fired dozens of missiles at Houthis and those from Ukraine. Ukraine is also using the weapon on a large scale: not only with F-16s, but also from the ground, using a Norwegian anti-aircraft system.
Last September, the Netherlands ordered 232 rockets worth about 570 million dollars from Raytheon
In addition, both the United States and European countries are expanding their weapons stockpiles to prepare for a possible armed conflict. Last September, the Netherlands ordered 232 rockets worth about 570 million dollars from manufacturer Raytheon. Last August, the American company reported a mega order from nineteen countries with a value of $3.5 billion.
Raytheon hardly gets all those AMRAAM missiles delivered. Production was already doubled last year, and this should happen again this year. This allows the company to produce approximately 1,200 rockets per year, but demand has now risen to several thousand rockets.
And so the Americans want to outsource – possibly to the Netherlands. This Monday, the Ministry of Defense announced in The Hague that Raytheon will investigate whether Dutch industry can contribute to the “production, assembly and maintenance” of AIM-120 AMRAAMs.
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Feasibility
With a production line in the Netherlands, the international shortages of AMRAAMs can be supplemented and support for Ukraine can be guaranteed for the coming years, Defense reports. The idea is not completely new: last year Raytheon decided to collaborate with Patriot anti-aircraft missiles in southern Germany. The Patriot system is, if possible, even more important for Ukraine than the AMRAAM.
Last June, the European NATO countries agreed to increase their defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP in the coming years. The Dutch armed forces therefore receive billions extra every year – but spending all that money turns out to be no easy feat. After the Cold War, the European defense industry shrank sharply. Strengthening this is therefore one of Defense’s priorities.
Last month, outgoing Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) opened a new production facility in Born, Limburg. Unmanned tracked vehicles, military batteries and drones are now made in the halls of former car manufacturer VDL.
Producing radar-guided missiles is a different matter. Ammunition has not been produced in the Netherlands for decades. And the defense industry counts poorly with shipbuilder Damen: a manufacturer that can supply complete weapon systems and not just individual parts.
Last month, outgoing State Secretary for Defense Gijs Tuinman (BBB) reported in a letter to Parliament that the ministry is also in discussions with Raytheon about a production line for the STINGER anti-aircraft missile. Due to the “required knowledge”, full production in Dutch is “not feasible”, Tuinman wrote. The Netherlands is therefore trying to set up production with some other European countries. European cooperation therefore seems to be a logical outcome of the ‘feasibility study’ into the AMRAAM.
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Alternatives
Making American weapons can stimulate the European defense industry, as well as promote integration of the European armed forces. The latter has been high on the agenda since the Trump administration made it clear that it no longer wants to pay for the defense of the continent.
At the same time, the production of the AMRAAM increases the dependence on American systems for which European alternatives exist. For example, the European Meteor missile is a newer system and is considered by many experts to be superior to the AMRAAM. There is also a European competitor for the Patriot missile, the SAMP/T. However, if Raytheon can continue to meet demand, it seems unlikely that Patriot countries like the Netherlands will switch.
Both Portugal and Canada are now looking at European alternatives to the American F-35 fighter plane
This raises political-strategic questions. Now that the US under Trump no longer appears to be a reliable ally, European capitals are now asking out loud what risks are involved. Both Portugal and Canada are now looking at European alternatives to the American F-35 fighter plane.
In the meantime, the Netherlands is deepening ‘transatlantic industrial defense cooperation’. Last month it joined a US project to develop an unmanned combat aircraft, the Collaborative Combat Aircraft. In Washington, State Secretary Tuinman also signed a contract with the American General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, which will develop small drones. VDL in Born will produce them – probably next year.
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