The Ministry of Defence is seeking collaboration with companies to learn how to operate drones on a large scale. These unmanned systems are becoming increasingly important in military operations. They help soldiers better see what's happening and work more safely. The Action Plan for Production Reliability of Unmanned Systems (APOS) ensures that the Ministry of Defence can quickly produce and adapt new drones.
The war in Ukraine has shown that drones can be used in many ways. Therefore, the Ministry of Defence wants the Netherlands to develop and produce more drones itself. The organization is now issuing an official call for proposals, a so-called tender. Dutch startups and other companies can respond, potentially jointly, and submit their ideas. The deadline for submissions is 29 October 2025.
Within APOS, all defence units are collaborating to develop the best unmanned systems for their units. The Dutch market is also being strengthened, so that more components and systems are produced domestically.
Test area
Together with the Province of South Holland, the Ministry of Defence is developing the first Dutch drone test area. Drones can also fly there out of the pilot's line of sight. This ensures that the Ministry remains prepared for its most important tasks.
Prime Minister Schoof previously stated that the Netherlands aims to play a leading role in this area within the European Union. APOS, the close cooperation with Ukraine, and the experience gained at the NATO summit provide the Netherlands with a good starting position.
