Netherlands Allocates €42.6M for First Drone Order Under €400M Action Plan

The Netherlands has entered into a partnership with DeltaQuad, a Dutch company, to provide Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) drones to Ukraine.

The Dutch Ministry of Defence has committed €42.6 million for this procurement, marking the first order under the recently announced Drone Action Plan from Amsterdam, which has a total budget of €400 million.

The unarmed ISR drones are designed for long-range missions, providing real-time battlefield intelligence and surveillance. These drones can evade detection, resist jamming, and operate autonomously in case of temporary loss of contact with their base.

The urgency for such advanced drones is critical for Ukrainian armed forces to effectively monitor Russian activities and maintain defensive positions. Over 50% of the €400 million allocated for the Drone Action Plan will be directed towards the Dutch defense industry, emphasizing local production capabilities.

The action plan, officially known as the Action Plan for Production Security for Unmanned Systems (APOS), outlines three key initiatives. The first focuses on the urgent acquisition of drones for both Ukraine and Dutch military use. The second aims to develop the drone industry and foster an innovative ecosystem in the Netherlands. The third involves adjusting financing and procurement processes to enhance operational success.

Details regarding the specific number and types of drones, as well as delivery schedules, remain undisclosed for operational security reasons.

DeltaQuad Evo 

The DeltaQuad Evo, the company’s latest offering, features UAV VTOL capabilities, dual payload bays, a 270 km range, and a flight time of 4.5 hours. It can perform complex missions with minimal pilot intervention, including ISR, stealthy supply transport, insight gathering, mapping, monitoring, and surveying. The drone is designed for complete autonomy from takeoff to landing, even when operating outside communication range for distances up to 270 km.