Drone technology every few weeks: the Netherlands opens the Quick Response Drone Facility

The Dutch Ministry of Defence has established the Quick Response Drone Facility (QRDF). It is intended to enable rapid, practical and effective innovation in drone technology, i.e. in unmanned aerial systems (drones).

Every few weeks, new developments are to be tested there together with scientific partners and put into use. The facility was officially opened a few days ago by Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans.

Brekelmans stressed: “The war in Ukraine shows unsparingly what difference modern technology makes on the battlefield.” He added: “For the Ukrainian armed forces, drones can decide between life and death. This reality underlines the need for technological superiority – and thus the central importance of the QRDF in our time.”

The QRDF is housed at the drone centre of the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR). TNO, Marin and MIND (Military Innovation by Doing) are involved as further partners. Bundling these forces is no coincidence, the minister explained: “Our knowledge institutions and entrepreneurs are among the best in the world. Our armed forces know exactly what is needed on operations. This cooperation – what we call the ‘golden triangle partnership’ – is deliberately put into practice at the QRDF.”

Drone technology based on the lessons of the war in Ukraine

The QRDF builds on what has been learned in the war in Ukraine. The Netherlands is regarded as a driving force when it comes to providing drones to Ukraine internationally. At the same time, the country is pushing for unmanned systems to be developed and manufactured for its own armed forces as well, for example with the Action Plan for Production Security of Unmanned Systems (APOS).

Brekelmans gave the partners a concrete assignment: “Together, develop a low-cost and effective detection system for our drones – to protect them against so-called ‘interceptor drones’. Because if we deploy drones, we must also be able to defend them: against jamming, interception attempts and technological countermeasures.”

The aim is to use the armed forces' own capabilities more effectively while specifically reducing losses of personnel and materiel.