Air defence and command frigate HNLMS De Ruyter launched a Tomahawk missile on 11 March. This happened off the coast of Norfolk in the US. It was the first time a Dutch naval vessel fired this type of missile.
With the test launch, the navy is gathering necessary information. This is to eventually fire Tomahawks from the air defence and command frigates.
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Tomahawk missile
The Tomahawk long-range weapons allow the navy to take out (strategic) targets deep inland from the sea. Think, for example, of command centres, anti-aircraft installations and enemy units. The missiles have a range of more than 1000 kilometres. The weapon gives the Royal Netherlands Navy extra combat power. This helps to deter potential adversaries.
The launch was led by the US Navy, in cooperation with a defence project team.
Picture by the Dutch Ministry of Defence.
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