Ministry of Defense to purchase protective equipment to combat small drones

The Ministry of Defense is going to improve soldiers' chances of protecting themselves from small drones. The threats that these unmanned systems create are increasing, State Secretary of Defense, Gijs Tuinman, said in a letter to the lower house of Dutch Parliament, the Tweede Kamer. These drones are being used on a large scale on the battlefields in Ukraine.

"At this time, Defense has very limited resources for self-defense against this threat,” said the State Secretary. He wants protective equipment to be purchased quickly. The first resources should be delivered in the course of next year and will go to units deployed in Eastern Europe.

Soldiers can use the protective equipment to improve their defense against drones of up to 20 kilos in weight and a range of at least one kilometer. They will receive better aiming tools for their weapons, portable jammers to block drone signals and sensors that will allow drones to be detected more quickly.

A fee of between 50 million euros to 250 million euros was spent on the investment.