Netherlands Wants to Join Europe’s OCCAR UAV Joint Armament Project

The Netherlands has expressed its desire to join the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-Operation (OCCAR) in a strategic move aimed at bolstering European defense cooperation and enhancing the positioning of its defense industry, according to a statement from the Dutch Defense Ministry released on Thursday.

The OCCAR, a European organization overseeing defense-equipment projects with a substantial operational budget of approximately €6 billion ($6.5 billion) and a portfolio encompassing 17 projects such as the A400M air lifter, the FREMM multi-mission frigate, and the Eurodrone, plays a pivotal role in facilitating collaboration among member countries. Established in 2001 by France, the U.K., Germany, and Italy, the organization expanded with the inclusion of Spain and Belgium in subsequent years.

In the face of the conflict in Ukraine and the challenges in the defense market, the Dutch Defense Ministry highlighted the urgency of strengthening European defense cooperation and fortifying the Dutch defense industry. The heightened geopolitical tensions, especially the Russian war in Ukraine, underscore the need for a robust European industrial base, the ministry emphasized.

The Netherlands aims to be at the forefront of driving European defense cooperation, and the decision to join OCCAR aligns with this ambition, the ministry stated. In the aftermath of Russia invasion of Ukraine, the Netherlands has augmented its defense spending, with the 2023 budget reaching €15 billion, up from around €12 billion in 2022, and a further increase to over €21 billion projected for 2024.

Joining OCCAR is envisioned as a strategic move to lower costs and enhance efficiency in the development and acquisition of new weapon systems through collaboration with European partners. The Netherlands anticipates that membership will facilitate closer ties with key European allies and expedite the implementation of crucial equipment projects.

Furthermore, OCCAR membership will provide Dutch defense companies with increased opportunities to participate in projects managed by the organization and compete for European initiatives, even in cases where the Netherlands is not directly involved.

The intention of the Netherlands to join OCCAR has been communicated to the parliament by Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren. The formal process involves OCCAR members evaluating the intention, with the actual accession for the Netherlands requiring approval through a parliamentary treaty procedure, as outlined by the ministry.

As part of the broader European defense landscape, the Eurodrone, also known as the European MALE RPAS (Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System), represents a significant initiative. Developed by Airbus Defence and Space, Leonardo, and Dassault Aviation under the management of OCCAR, the Eurodrone is designed to be a high-altitude, long-endurance UAV with versatile capabilities, including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), target acquisition, and electronic warfare.

The Eurodrone program, initiated in 2016, is currently in the development phase, with the first flight scheduled for 2024. With specifications such as a 14-meter length, 30-meter wingspan, and 40 hours of endurance covering a range of 10,000 kilometers, the Eurodrone is expected to enter service with the European Union in the late 2020s. The program aims to enhance European security and defense capabilities, improve ISR capabilities, reduce reliance on non-EU suppliers, and stimulate economic benefits for the European aerospace industry. The Eurodrone stands as a key component in the European Union pursuit of an independent and sovereign defense capability.