Ministry of Defence and VDL taking concrete steps to scale up defence industry production
For the sake of our security, it is imperative that we rapidly strengthen our armed forces. To this end, investing in the European and Dutch defence industries is crucial. In order to scale up national production capacity, the Dutch Ministry of Defence is leasing a number of production halls from VDL Groep in Born. The lease agreement is being signed today by Minister Brekelmans and VDL President & CEO Van der Leegte.
Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans has praised the important collaboration between the armed forces and VDL: “Today, we are taking an important step towards strengthening our defence industry. I am delighted that the Ministry of Defence and VDL are continuing to develop their collaboration. VDL has the experience and resources necessary for setting up production lines. This will not only safeguard the security of the Netherlands and our allies, but also bolster our economy and create more jobs. A perfect example of a win-win situation.”
Willem van der Leegte, the President & CEO of VDL Groep, says: “This is an important first step. The Dutch government has enlisted the help of VDL Groep, drawing on our expertise to scale up the Dutch defence industry. Considering the current geopolitical situation, we recognise the urgency of taking responsibility. That is why we are committed to meeting the needs of the Dutch government. What exactly will we be doing in Born? We will be fully supporting the needs of the government”.
A total of 27,500 square metres of production space will be available immediately. In the other halls, some modifications will first be required before production can begin there in the near future. By the end of the year, the Ministry of Defence will have approximately 120,000 square metres of space at its disposal in Born. Scaling up the defence industry is a priority, so we must act quickly. This is necessary to keep the Netherlands and our allies safe.
At the Born site, the Ministry of Defence will be able to accommodate projects immediately for resources for which we currently have little to no production capacity. Presently, we are exploring options for increasing the production of Dutch defence equipment. This includes the production of military drones, as well as the maintenance and modernisation of defence vehicles.
Dutch companies will soon be able to start using the production halls. This will enable the space to be used for a variety of purposes. Through these measures, the Ministry of Defence is supporting the Dutch economy and technological innovation.
In March, the Ministry of Defence and VDL announced their intention to join forces in the effort to scale up military production. Today, a concrete follow-up step is being taken. Further announcements about specific projects and production activities will follow in the coming months.