The Netherlands Ministry of Defence has launched a nationwide call to industry for advanced counter-drone solutions under the new “Counter Strike Drone Challenge,” aimed at rapidly developing and deploying technologies capable of detecting, identifying, and neutralising hostile drones in real-world operational environments.
According to the Dutch Ministry of Defence, the initiative invites companies to submit proposals for practical counter–uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) that can neutralise enemy drones swiftly — even within hostile territory. The ministry emphasises that the challenge is not focused on developing a single product but rather on field-ready systems that deliver proven operational results.
The challenge seeks to accelerate the identification and integration of market-ready technologies into the Dutch armed forces’ C-UAS inventory. Selected participants will be supported through a prototype development phase, with successful systems potentially joining the Netherlands’ official catalogue of military-grade counter-drone capabilities. The ministry has earmarked an estimated €3.75 million (excluding VAT) for the programme, according to a tender notice published on 6 November 2025
Source: Unmanned Airspace & TenderNed (Dutch government’s online tendering system)














