Netherlands turns to Elbit to take its counter-drone system from soft kill to hard kill
The planned integration of six interceptor drones would add a physical layer to the ReDrone system already operated by the Dutch military.
The Dutch Ministry of Defense is seeking to expand its fleet of Elbit Systems’ ReDrone counter-drone systems, adding the ability to physically destroy hostile drones as European militaries respond to the growing threat posed by uncrewed aerial systems.
According to a Dutch Defense Ministry procurement notice, the planned expansion involves integrating six interceptor drones into the existing ReDrone system. The addition would give the system a “hard-kill” capability, allowing it to destroy detected drones rather than relying solely on electronic measures to disrupt or take control of them.
The Netherlands currently operates ReDrone systems supplied by Elbit Systems. The Israeli defense company won a contract worth approximately $55 million in August 2023 to supply the Dutch military with several mobile, stationary and deployed configurations of its integrated counter-unmanned aerial system, along with training and logistical support. The contract was scheduled to be carried out over four years.
The Dutch ministry describes the new requirement as necessary to expand ReDrone’s operational range and lethality and to “guarantee operational defense readiness.” The existing system provides “soft-kill” capabilities, while the planned upgrade would add physical interception.
The six interceptor drones are to be integrated into the existing system rather than deployed as a separate counter-drone capability. The ministry’s description says the expanded system would be able to detect and identify hostile drones and then either electronically neutralize them or physically destroy them.
The decision to award the work directly to Elbit rather than conduct a competitive procurement is also revealing. The Dutch Defense Ministry says the integration requires access to ReDrone’s software source code to ensure interoperability.
Elbit, as the developer and owner of the software, is considered the only company capable of carrying out the integration, according to the ministry. It also says the work must not invalidate the existing warranty, which remains in effect until at least January 2028.
“Due to the unique combination of software ownership and warranty requirements, no equivalent alternative exists,” the ministry said in its justification for the direct award.
The project is scheduled for completion by December 1, 2026.
