The Netherlands is spending up to 3 billion euros on anti-drone systems amid increasing sightings of these aircraft.
The Netherlands plans to spend up to 3 billion euros to enhance its capabilities against drones, including mobile anti-aircraft gun systems, interceptor aircraft, radars, and countermeasures against small drones. The protection of naval vessels against drone attacks will also be strengthened.
The Dutch Ministry of Defense previously announced the purchase of 22 mobile anti-drone systems of the Skyranger 30 type, with the first batch expected to arrive in 2028. The new measures come after repeated sightings of drones over major military bases, including Eindhoven and Volkel, prompting the army to fire at the drones using both electronic measures and weapons for the first time.
The previous incidents included the sighting of a drone over the control tower at the Gilze-Rijen Air Base. Investigations by the Dutch Royal Military Police (Marechaussee) found no suspects, with additional sightings of drones at the same base recorded weeks earlier. Acting State Secretary Jess Thijssen described these incidents as "very concerning developments" that highlight the rapid evolution of unmanned systems.
The messages directed to the Tweede Kamer confirmed that drone threats are global. Recent incidents involving Russian drones in Poland and Romania, along with Houthi suicide drone attacks in the Red Sea, have shown that unmanned aerial systems threaten not only land targets but also maritime and commercial vessels.
The Ministry of Defense plans to deploy operational intervention teams for drones by the end of 2025 and acquire additional mobile combat platforms under the "Verwerving Combat Counter-UAS" project. The strategy is based on lessons from the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East, aiming to enhance regional defense and operational units on the eastern front.