Netherlands Begins Production of UGVs, Drones at VDL Born Site for Dutch Military, Ukraine

The Dutch Ministry of Defense has started large-scale production of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), drones, and military batteries at the VDL site in Born, South Limburg.

The new production lines will deliver unmanned vehicles by Milrem Robotics, military-use batteries by Tulip Tech, and drones by DeltaQuad — all aimed at strengthening the Dutch and Ukrainian armed forces.

Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans signed the agreements with the three defense technology firms, describing the initiative as a necessary acceleration of Europe’s defense capacity amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. “To continue supporting Ukraine and deter Russia, we need to scale up defense production quickly,” Brekelmans said. “This involves innovation and industrialization, speed and scale. With VDL and other modern companies, we can achieve this. VDL is now the flagship of the Dutch defense industry and is operating at full speed.”

The project represents one of the fastest industrial defense ramp-ups in recent Dutch history. Normally, establishing such facilities takes years, but at VDL, the first production lines became operational within months. The Ministry of Defence has rented 120,000 square meters of factory space and facilities at the Born site, where existing infrastructure and permits have allowed for an immediate start. Former VDL employees are also being rehired to support the renewed production drive.

The partnership between the Dutch defense ministry and VDL is designed to last at least ten years. Additional production lines are planned in the coming months.

For the Netherlands, the move represents a strategic effort to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and strengthen autonomy in defense production. For Ukraine, the equipment coming off the Born production lines — from unmanned ground vehicles to aerial drones and energy systems — will directly contribute to sustaining the fight against Russian forces.