Dutch Cabinet facing more pressure to quickly ramp up anti-drone defense
Several MPs have urged the Cabinet to accelerate the plans for better protection against drones after several drone-related incidents at Eindhoven Airport and at the Volkel air base over the weekend. “We see from our adversaries that this is a very cheap and effective way for them to spread fear and cause disruption. And they will continue to do so in the coming years. Yes, we must invest as much as possible in our protection,” Ulysse Ellian of the VVD said.
Fatimazhra Belhirch of D66 also issued a warning regarding the protection of the nation’s safety. “Politicians have been naïve in taking our peace and security for granted. We are now seeing the same with these drones.” Kati Piri of GroenLinks-PvdA said the measures are clearly needed: for detecting drones, jamming their signals, and taking them out. “We just need more capacity,” she added.
It was announced yesterday that the Ministry of Defense will spend between 1.25 and 3 billion euros on anti-drone defense systems.
One of the measures is that Dutch armored howitzers could soon be fitted with protective nets to defend against kamikaze drones. A defense firm in the Netherlands is developing a prototype and aims to begin producing the system.
Self-propelled howitzers continue to play a key role in the war in Ukraine, but, like tanks and other heavy machinery, they are susceptible to the drones that dominate modern battlefields. To counter this, Ukrainian forces are fitting them with nets or even complete cage-like structures, which help absorb the impact of drone attacks and reduce damage to the vehicles.
According to a LinkedIn post, COBBS Industries is developing the Netherlands’ first anti-drone net for the Ministry of Defense. The company shared an image showing a PZH2000 completely covered in a grid-like mesh.
A Defense spokesperson clarified that the Ministry has only held talks with COBBS Industries about a prototype. No deal has been signed, and nothing has been officially confirmed.
Reporting by ANP and NL Times
