Netherlands joins coalition to supply Ukraine with drones
14 February, 2024 The Leleka-100 UAV from the Poroshenko Foundation for the Ukrainian military, February 2024. Photo credits: Petro Poroshenko The Netherlands has joined the Drone Coalition, which aims to provide Ukraine with advanced drones that will enhance the offensive capabilities of Ukrainian troops.
Reuters reported on this. Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren stated that the country could spend more than the EUR2 billion of military aid allocated for 2024 within the new coalition. "We know, of course, that drones are very important in this war," Ollongren noted. "That's why we are joining the drone coalition that Ukraine has started together with Latvia, together with other countries, to make sure that we do just that - increase production, use the latest technology, and provide exactly what Ukraine needs," Ollongren said.
On January 18, Militarnyi reported on the creation of the Drone Coalition.
Illustrative photo of WARMATE 3.0 loitering munition.
Photo credits: WB Electronics
Latvia initiated the establishment of the Drone Coalition. The initiative was announced during a meeting between its Defense Minister Andris Spruds and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umierov in December 2023. According to the Latvian minister, this initiative will assist the Ukrainian military in a war where the use of drones has become an important element of combat operations.
Kateryna Chernohorenko, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformations, and Digitalization, presented Ukraine's need for unmanned systems, electronic warfare, and technologies to protect critical infrastructure to representatives of 13 participating countries. "Technology, not people, should be fighting. The drone coalition will be another step towards implementing this idea.
It will save many lives. Strengthening and developing the production of unmanned systems will make it possible to transform the military and make the latest technologies a reality today. I would like to invite nations to develop software solutions that will create the future of this sector," the Deputy Defense Minister said.
The PD-2 reconnaissance system was handed over to the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, December 21, 2023.
Photo credits: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine
In addition to the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom have already joined the Drone Coalition. Militarnyi previously reported that the Netherlands would provide Ukraine with an additional six F-16 fighter jets that were withdrawn from the contract for the sale to Draken. It is worth noting that pilots will be trained by the same company, Draken International, with which the sale agreement was suspended.
In total, Ukraine is currently planned to receive dozens of fighter jets from its allies.
In particular, 24 fighter jets from the Netherlands and 19 from Denmark.