This mask is equipped with an elastic band. This playground is equipped with a slide. This jacket is equipped with large pockets. What’s wrong with “has”?
They’re simply not things that can be well-equipped, unlike (say) an estate car or a soldier on active duty.
- Reserve “being equipped with” for something that you could reasonably refer to as equipment.
- And even then, nine times out of ten it’ll be simpler and more natural to use “have”.
It’s not specifically Dutch; other Germanic languages are prone to the same overblown terminology too.
Prevalence: high. Another case of a relatively common phrase in Dutch (uitgerust met) with a stock transliteration that doesn’t always click.
Frequency: moderate. Technical writers and website copywriters beware in particular.
Native: no. We’re perfectly happy with “have”.
Advanced Dunglish 