On November 6, 2025, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence announced a landmark agreement with the United States to launch a feasibility study aimed at co-producing Raytheon's AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) in the Netherlands. This initiative is directly supported by the U.S. government and Raytheon, reflecting an unprecedented move to expand European NATO’s defence industrial base and accelerate missile deliveries for platforms such as the F-35 and ground-based NASAMS air defence systems. The collaboration marks the first potential local production and assembly of AMRAAM missiles within a European NATO member, intended to address persistent supply chain bottlenecks, improve logistics, and boost the continent’s ammunition reserves in response to urgent operational demands.

According to the Dutch Ministry of Defence and Raytheon leadership, the feasibility study will assess the integration of Dutch defence and aerospace industry capabilities for the missile’s assembly, manufacturing, and maintenance. By shifting core elements of the AMRAAM supply chain and maintenance to the Netherlands, NATO will be able to hedge against transatlantic lead-time risks, enabling more rapid replenishment and surging capacity in the event of crisis or escalation. The move is a direct response to increased NATO and partner requirements, particularly exacerbated by Ukraine’s conflict and the resulting need to stockpile and field modern munitions swiftly and at scale.

Strategically, the Dutch-led initiative promises a “two-hemisphere” supply posture for AMRAAM—a missile platform notable for its broad integration across both air and ground systems. Unlike the European MBDA Meteor missile, which boasts certain technical advantages but has limited platform interoperability, AMRAAM is already deployed by NATO’s F-35 fleets and NASAMS operators with robust training and support infrastructure. While the U.S. AIM-260 JATM is in transition, AMRAAM remains the workhorse for alliance air defence, and local co-production serves as an immediate force-multiplier for readiness, magazine depth, and operational tempo.

This announcement is highly relevant for European defence contractors, system integrators, infrastructure providers, and government procurement agencies. It sets the stage for new opportunities in contracts, supply agreements, sub-component manufacturing, and maintenance operations, and delivers strategic leverage for European partners seeking to build a more self-reliant industrial pillar within NATO. Stakeholders should anticipate expanded business opportunities across munitions integration, logistics, software-driven upgrades, and dual-use application support, as Raytheon and Dutch technology providers collaborate on key production standards, export approvals, and inventory management protocols.

Furthermore, the Netherlands’ involvement intensifies transatlantic defence industry ties without transferring core missile design authority. For Raytheon and other U.S. multinational partners, distributing production nodes in Europe alleviates strain on U.S. facilities managing multiple munitions ramp-ups, such as the ongoing JATM transition and other recapitalisation demands. For European ministries and NATO strategists, the move signals industrial risk-sharing with Washington, reduced vulnerability to single-point failures, and accelerated readiness cycles for both operational and urgent response missions.

The feasibility study’s outcome, if positive, is expected to be rapidly implemented to bolster NATO’s collective air and missile defence reserves and ensure deployment flexibility. Business executives and procurement leaders in the defence B2B ecosystem should closely monitor developments, including tender opportunities, supply chain requirements, local workforce implications, and strategic technology transfers—all of which will reshape the European missile manufacturing landscape. In summary, the Netherlands-U.S. AMRAAM co-production project is a transformative development for those directly involved in munitions, air defence, and transatlantic industry supply chains, offering immediate and medium-term business cases for European B2B defence decision-makers.