In the early 2000s, the Netherlands replaced their American-made M47 Dragon and TOW anti-tank missiles with a single system, the Spike, designed by the Israeli group Rafael. A total of 297 launchers and more than 2,400 missiles were acquired to meet the needs of the army and the marine infantry. However, over time, these Spike missiles have now become outdated or are close to it. This was highlighted by Gijs Tuinman, the Dutch State Secretary for Defense, in a letter addressed to the House of Representatives on September 2.
The Dutch official explained, “The current system is reaching the end of its technical and operational lifespan after 25 years. As a result, it is experiencing increasing technical failures, and its maintenance is difficult. Moreover, the optical target detection and missile guidance systems are obsolete.” He added that replacing this capability is “urgent, partly due to the deteriorating security situation in Europe.” But also because delivery times must be considered. “Ordering later leads to delays and higher prices,” Tuinman continued, emphasizing the need to place an order by October 31 at the latest.