Netherlands Allocates €400 Million for Drone Development with Ukraine.

The Dutch government has announced a €400 million investment to develop drones in collaboration with Ukraine. Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans unveiled this initiative during a visit to the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

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The Dutch government has announced a €400 million investment to develop drones in collaboration with Ukraine. (Picture source: Dutch MoD)

Half of the drones will be produced in the Netherlands, while the other half will be developed in Ukraine and other partner countries. According to Brekelmans, the Netherlands has already played a leading role in supporting Ukraine, particularly through the supply of F-16 fighter jets and Patriot systems. “We are continuing this support with advanced drones,” he stated.

The drones will be designed for various missions, including reconnaissance, defense, and offensive operations. “Primarily for aerial use, but also adaptable for land and sea operations,” Brekelmans explained.

In a social media post, the Defense Minister said: “We remain at the forefront of supporting Ukraine. During my visit to Kharkiv and Kyiv, I announced a Drone Action Plan. With a budget of €400 million, we will provide advanced drones for reconnaissance, defense, and offensive missions. Nearly half will be developed in the Netherlands.”

Speaking to the ANP news agency, Brekelmans emphasized the sophistication of these drones, highlighting their high demand in Ukraine for both air defense and offensive capabilities. He added that several other countries are also working on similar drone technologies.

If the newly developed drones prove effective, additional funds will be allocated to scale up their production, according to the Ministry of Defense.

Brekelmans also confirmed that the first batch of the 24 F-16 fighter jets promised by the Netherlands has been delivered to Ukraine and is already operational. Although he did not specify the exact number of aircraft in the initial delivery, he mentioned that more F-16s would be sent to Ukraine by the beginning of next year.

In total, the Netherlands has allocated €10.4 billion in support for Ukraine, of which €3.8 billion has already been delivered.

We blijven een voortrekkersrol vervullen in steun aan Oekraïne.

Daarom kondig ik in mijn bezoek aan Kharkiv en Kyiv een Actieplan Drones aan.

Voor €400 miljoen leveren we geavanceerde drones. Voor verkenning, verdediging én aanval. Bijna de helft wordt in Nederland ontwikkeld. pic.twitter.com/05Wk6kBY5j

— Ruben Brekelmans (@DefensieMin) October 6, 2024