Defence can only strengthen integrated air and missile defense with the help of companies and knowledge institutions. Your technical expertise is indispensable, said Chief of Defence General Onno Eichelsheim today at a congress in Amsterdam. There, the various parties signed a letter of intent aimed at collaboration.

NATO has a great need for high-quality air defense systems. The war in Ukraine confirms the importance of this. The country struggles daily with Russian threats from the air. An additional complicating factor is that Russia simultaneously deploys missiles, unmanned systems, and countermeasures. This is to overload launch and radar systems and deplete munitions stocks.

It forces us to strengthen our entire air defense, says the general. He believes it has developed into a complex, high-tech sport. Therefore, Defence desperately needs companies and knowledge institutions to strengthen and accelerate innovation, production, and knowledge development in this field.

Only by joining forces can we achieve our goal, emphasized Eichelsheim. And that is not only to shelter under a protective umbrella ourselves but also to extend it over our allies.