Flying low over the waves and recognising the designated ship: modern anti-ship missiles carry quite a lot of technology on board. The Netherlands wants to buy such weapons to better defend the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.
The purchase is mentioned in answers to parliamentary questions about the 2026 Defence White Paper, reports the Antilliaans Dagblad. One example of this type of weapon is Norway’s Naval Strike Missile, or NSM. According to manufacturer Kongsberg, it can attack a ship more than 300 kilometres away.
A seeker in the nose
One of the interesting features of the NSM is tucked away in its nose. An infrared seeker looks at the target. Using automatic image recognition, the missile searches for the designated ship. Meanwhile, it can fly low over the sea. Navigation, observation and recognition all happen aboard the missile itself.
The launcher does not have to sit on a warship, either. Kongsberg also supplies a vehicle-mounted version that launches the missiles from the coast. A command post and information from sensors help locate the target.
The Netherlands has already selected the NSM for its frigates. For the Caribbean purchase, the type, numbers and locations have not yet been announced. It is also unclear whether the missiles will be deployed from land or from ships.
Alongside the missiles, the Ministry of Defence wants to invest in a permanent marine unit, an air surveillance radar and counter-drone equipment in the region. The Coastguard’s reconnaissance aircraft will also receive additional flying hours.
