The Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) have entered a strategic partnership to co-develop a new small uncrewed aircraft system (SUAS) focused on multi-role intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The collaboration includes developing a low-cost, modular platform capable of carrying diverse payloads to support various operational needs. GA-ASI has chosen VDL Defentec—a Dutch company specializing in military and special-purpose vehicle engineering and production—as the contract manufacturer for this aircraft. The partnership extends beyond development to include establishing production capabilities in the Netherlands, with plans for scalable, high-volume manufacturing. The aircraft is targeted to achieve first flight by the end of 2025, followed by low-rate initial production starting in 2026 both in the United States and the Netherlands. This agreement reflects a robust transatlantic defense collaboration aimed at enhancing European defense capabilities and supporting NATO, including contributions to the defense of Ukraine. VDL Defentec’s involvement leverages their extensive experience in vehicle design, manufacturing, logistics, and support, positioning the Netherlands as a key manufacturing hub for this versatile SUAS platform. Dutch Minister for Arms Procurement Gijs Tuinman emphasized the project’s significance for advancing national and allied technical expertise and resilience.
