Minister Brekelmans: “The war in Ukraine unrelentingly shows how technology makes a difference on the battlefield. For Ukrainians, drones often mean the difference between life and death. This reality underscores the importance of technological superiority. And thus, the importance of the QRDF in this time.”

The facility is part of the drone center of the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR). Furthermore, TNO, Marin, and MIND (Military Innovation by Doing) are involved. This is not without reason, acknowledged the minister. “Our knowledge institutions and entrepreneurs are leading. Our armed forces know what is needed in the field. And precisely that collaboration, in what we call the ‘Golden Triangle’, is realized within the QRDF.”

The idea for the facility arose from the lessons learned from Ukraine. The Netherlands is one of the driving forces in the international supply of drones to Ukraine. Development and production of drones are also being stimulated in the Netherlands for our own armed forces. This is done, among other things, through the Action Plan for Production Security of Unmanned Systems (APOS).

Brekelmans also presented a concrete challenge to the NLR and the other partners. “Develop - together with your partners - a cheap and effective detection system for our drones against ‘interceptor drones’. Because when we deploy drones, we must also be able to protect them: against disruption, interception, and technological countermeasures.” This way, our own resources can be used more effectively, and the risk of loss of personnel and equipment is reduced.