Dutch soldiers tried to shoot down unidentified drones flying over both Eindhoven Air Base and Eindhoven Airport this weekend, most likely in vain. Outgoing Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) provided new details about last weekend’s incidents during a debate with the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening.
Last Friday evening, unknown drones were also detected above Volkel air base – a heavily guarded air base where American nuclear weapons are also stationed. Defense then tried to remove the drones from the air. On Saturday evening there were drone reports over both Volkel and Eindhoven, where there is also an important air base. At both locations, unsuccessful attempts were made to intercept the drones.
Brekelmans’ answers to questions show that there was coordination during the overflights. For example, two “waves” of unknown drones were observed above Volkel air base on Friday evening. Also on Saturday evening there were several drones above Eindhoven and Volkel, which flew over at different times. In both places, the drones only flew above the bases for a short time.
Also read
Drones ‘chased’ above Volkel Air Base and Eindhoven Airport
‘Four bangs’
Minister Brekelmans was not very forthcoming with information about how the drones were observed and how exactly attempts were made to disable them – so as not to make a possible opponent any wiser than necessary. Last Monday, the Ministry of Defense reported in a letter to Parliament that both “electronic” and “kinetic means” had been deployed – in other words, an attempt had been made to disrupt and shoot at the drones. A resident of Volkel Air Base said against it Eindhovens Dagblad having heard “four bangs.”
The Dutch armed forces have counter drone systems. For example, the ReDrone system from the Israeli company Elbit Systems was purchased in 2023, which can detect and disrupt drones, making them uncontrollable. These systems were deployed during the NATO summit in The Hague last summer and at the EU summit in Copenhagen this autumn. Systems have also been set up in Eindhoven and Volkel. “It’s not that we don’t have anything there,” said Brekelmans.
It was not clear from Brekelmans’ answers why this did not lead to a successful interception. Both the justice department and the security services AIVD and MIVD are investigating the incidents.
Investments
The Ministry of Defense wants to accelerate investments in couter-drone systems and has therefore submitted an adjustment to the budget, which the parliamentary standing committee on Defense approved on Wednesday. This not only concerns the surveillance of strategic objects, but especially the defense of units in the field. For example, State Secretary of Defense Gijs Tuinman (BBB) wants to purchase additional rapid-fire guns of the Skyranger 30 type, which can shoot down drones up to five kilometers away.
Defense is also investing in radars from the Dutch company Robin Radar Systems, which can also detect small hobby drones. The purchase involves an amount of between 1 and 2.5 billion euros. The origin of all the equipment remains partly secret – possibly because it comes from Israel. Despite the insistence of MP Kati Piri (GroenLinks-PvdA), Minister Brekelmans did not want to provide further information about this.
Also read
Drones over the airports. Were they teenagers or was it Moscow?
NEW: Give this item as a gift
As an NRC subscriber you can subscribe every month 10 items give as a gift to someone without an NRC subscription. The recipient can read the article directly, without a paywall.
Why you can trust NRC