Netherlands investing heavily in producing military drones, sensors, satellites
The Netherlands is promoting itself as the premier destination for purchasing military drones, sensors, and satellites, and is investing heavily in the production of these products. The Netherlands will invest €1.2 billion in drone manufacturers over the coming years and is converting the former VDL car factory in Born into a drone manufacturing facility, AD reports.
“Defense budgets are growing rapidly, including in the Netherlands. In a world that is becoming increasingly unsafe, this is essential,” Defense State Secretary Gijs Tuinman (BBB) told AD from the defense trade fair DSEI in London, where the Netherlands is represented with 36 companies. “Never before have we attended DSEI with such a large delegation. We excel where technology, innovation, and production converge.” The Netherlands is finding it hard to gain a foothold in the market for tanks and heavy weapons, so it is focusing on “drones, unmanned systems, and technology,” Tuinman said.
The government expects military drones to be a lucrative market in the increasingly dangerous world. In 2023, €14 billion was spent worldwide on these devices. This is expected to increase to €36 billion by 2030. The caretaker government is actively working to make the Dutch defense industry competitive in this market.
“We help with financing and permitting,” Tuinman told AD. “And we bring together companies, knowledge institutes, and military users. This allows us to go from an idea on the drawing board to a product as quickly as possible.”
An example is Lobster Robotics, which presented its Scout 3 underwater drone at the DSEI. “We started development last December,” founder Stephan Rutten told the newspaper. “The prototype was in the water in June.” The Dutch military is currently testing the Scout 3, and the company expects to launch the model within a few months.
The government isn’t only investing in startups like Lobster. Thales, a globally recognized manufacturer of high-quality radar and sonar systems, is also receiving government support, State Secretary Tuiman added. “The Netherlands is a radar country. The best equipment comes from Hengelo. Coincidentally, we bought a very special new radar from them. As the first user. Now you see other countries, including Norway, placing orders. We’re encouraging this product to become the European standard.”
