"We think that this is a unique point in time and it reinforces the partnership we have with the U.S. And I think it also makes the world a lot safer if in the near future we can actually also operate CCA type of aircraft in the European theater," Gijs Tuinman, Dutch State Secretary for Defense, told reporters Thursday after announcing the agreement at the Dutch embassy's defense industry event."
""The Netherlands is like the jumping pad for the United States to get into Europe. So we have always [had a] strong or transatlantic relationship. That's my message here too: to sign the deal, but also to express that we understand the message from the U.S...that the Netherlands and Europe should shift the burden a bit" by increasing defense spending, Tuinman said."
"Tuinman said the drone industry lacks systems that can "penetrate [anti-access/area-denial] bubbles and have a diverse set of ISR and strike capabilities.""
The Netherlands signed a letter of intent to join the U.S. Air Force's collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) program and a separate agreement with General Atomics to develop small unmanned aircraft for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The CCA partnership grants access to program development, data sharing, and input on European operational requirements. The move leverages prior cooperation on the F-16 and F-35 and aims to proliferate advanced systems across Europe. The Netherlands seeks roughly equal numbers of manned, unmanned, and attritable systems for national defense. The General Atomics deal targets affordable, multi‑payload ISR drones capable of penetrating anti‑access/area‑denial environments.
#netherlands #collaborative-combat-aircraft #unmanned-aerial-systems #general-atomics #transatlantic-defense
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