Production of military equipment started at VDL in Born

Production for the Ministry of Defense at VDL in Born has officially commenced. This involves unmanned vehicles by Milrem Robotics, batteries for military use by Tulip Tech, and drones by DeltaQuad. Minister Ruben Brekelmans signed the agreements with the three companies.

Normally, it takes years to get defense production up and running. At VDL, this is happening much faster. The first production lines will be operational in a few months. The Ministry of Defense is renting 120,000 m² of halls and facilities at the location in South Limburg for this purpose. Because many facilities and permits are already in place, production can start quickly. This also means that former VDL employees will quickly find work again.

The collaboration with VDL is structural and will last for at least 10 years. More production lines will follow in the coming months. With this project, the Ministry of Defense, companies, and regional partners are working together to strengthen the security of the Netherlands and Europe.

According to Brekelmans, it is necessary to invest now. “In order to continue to support Ukraine and deter Russia, it is necessary to scale up defense production quickly. This involves innovation and industrialization, speed and scale. With VDL and other modern companies, we can achieve this as the Ministry of Defense. VDL is the new flagship of the Dutch defense industry and is now in full swing.”

Greater independence from other countries

The new production means greater independence from other countries and more strategic autonomy for the Netherlands. For Ukraine, it is crucial to continue the fight against Russian aggression. With modern vehicles, batteries, and drones, the armed forces can act faster and stronger.

The start in Born is therefore good news for Limburg, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and Europe. It creates jobs, strengthens the defense industry, and increases resilience.