British defense contractor BAE Systems will deliver eight Bofors 40 Mk4 naval gun systems to the Netherlands and Belgium under a new contract from the Dutch Command Materiel and IT, an agency under the Dutch Ministry of Defence.
Stefan Lofstrom, marketing and sales director at BAE Systems Bofors, said the new deal allows the company to continue its support for NATO members’ efforts to improve the region’s defense capabilities.
“This key milestone will ensure the new frigates have the cutting-edge capabilities they require,” including the company’s programmable 40 mm Bofors 3P ammunition, he said.
The contract is part of a Dutch-Belgian navy joint venture program that will provide the two nations with two frigates each and two naval gun systems per frigate, plus provisions for installation, training and documentation support services.
The first batch of the order is expected to be delivered in 2026.
According to the BAE Systems website, the 40 Mk4 naval gun system is a lightweight, compact solution that can deliver a high rate of fire and switch between optimized ammunition types, ensuring high survivability for troops in any mission.
The British vendor supports defense improvement initiatives across Europe. In August, BAE Systems Hägglunds tapped Elbit Systems to install Iron Fist active protection systems on an unnamed European country’s CV90 infantry fighting vehicles. Earlier at Eurosatory 2024, Paul Zukowski, international business development director for Europe at BAE, disclosed talks on integrating its Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle within Romania and Poland‘s armed forces.