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Ukraine and Netherlands to Co-Produce Drones in $293 Million Defense Deal
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![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
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The Netherlands has announced a €248 million ($293 million) investment to produce combat drones for Ukraine, Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius confirmed, The Guardian reported on April 16.
Speaking in Berlin following a meeting with NATO counterparts and the alliance’s Secretary General Mark Rutte, Yeşilgöz-Zegerius highlighted the strategic and tactical importance of unmanned systems in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Drones play a crucial role on the modern battlefield,” she stated. “Ukrainians deploy them with incredible skill to repel the incessant Russian attacks.”
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The defense package represents a significant deepening of the military-industrial partnership between the two nations, as the newly funded drones will be manufactured jointly in both the Netherlands and Ukraine, according to The Guardian.
The Dutch Defense Minister emphasized that this arrangement provides significant mutual benefits for European security and innovation. “Thanks to the good cooperation with Ukraine, we are learning directly from this,” Yeşilgöz-Zegerius added. “This also offers opportunities for our business community.”
The commitment from the Netherlands reflects a trend among European allies to localize defense manufacturing directly inside Ukraine. By co-producing unmanned aerial vehicles on both Dutch and Ukrainian soil, the Netherlands secures a steady supply of equipment for the front lines while integrating Ukrainian battlefield experience into its own defense sector.
This joint venture builds on previous bilateral agreements, including the recent Dutch decision to finance 600,000 Ukrainian-made drones.
