Das niederländische Verteidigungsministerium plant die Beschaffung einer unbestimmten Anzahl von Radarpods für Seeaufklärung, von Communications Relay Pods und von drei SIGINT/ESM-Pods. Außerdem wird noch heuer eine Vorlage zur Bewaffnung der MQ-9 an das Parlament überwiesen.
Die Niederlande werden gemeinsam mit Frankreich GBU-12 (Lasergelenkte 500-Pfund-Bombe), GBU-49 LOT 5 (Laser- und GPS-gelenkte 500-Pfund-Bombe) und Panzerabwehrlenkwaffen AGM-114 R2 Hellfire für ihre Drohnen anschaffen. Es werden die vier derzeit im Bestand der Koninklijke Landmacht befindlichen MQ-9 für die Bewaffnung modifiziert. Die in Beschaffung befindlichen MQ-9, die 2026 geliefert werden sollen, sind bereits zum Einsatz von Munition vorbereitet. Geplant ist eine IOC mit Munition im Jahr 2025 und die FOC im Jahr 2028.
The Government of the Netherlands has requested to buy up to four (4) MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft; up to three (3) UAV MQ-9 Mobile Ground Control Systems (MGCS); up to thirty (30) Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Internal Navigation Systems (EGI) devices, Airborne, with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) or M-Code; up to eight (8) AN/DAS-4 Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems; and up to twenty (20) Lynx AN/APY-8 Synthetic Aperture Radars. Also included are Reaper Engines; Selex Seaspray Synthetic Aperture Radars; SeaVue Maritime Radars; M299 Hellfire Longbow missile launchers; AN/ARC-210 radios; Line-of-Site (LOS) Ground Data Terminals; Ruggedized Aircraft Maintenance Test Stations (RAMTS); AN/APX-119 and other Identification Friend or Foe transponders; KIV-77 Cryptographic Appliques; KY-100M narrowband/wideband terminals; AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders; satellite communications earth terminal subsystems (SETSS); spare parts, consumables, and accessories and repair and return support; secure communication equipment and cryptographic devices; major/minor modifications, maintenance, and maintenance support; munitions support and support equipment; unclassified software delivery and support; transportation support; unclassified publications and technical documentation; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistic and program support. The estimated total cost is $611 million.
The fourth and final MQ-9A Reaper (M008) from the second procurement batch for the Netherlands Armed Forces has completed production in California.
After successfully passing the U.S. Government’s Acceptance Test Procedure, the aircraft was inspected by COMMIT and RNLASF and confirmed to meet all requirements. The official handover ceremony was attended by Air Commodore Van Egmond (Air Combat Command), representatives of the U.S. Government and manufacturer General Atomics.
Two of the new Reapers will remain in the United States until at least 2028 for further development and testing of new capabilities, including Maritime Radar, AIS and updated software. The other two will arrive in the Netherlands in 2027 with the Extended Range capability.
In the longer term, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence will operate a fleet of eight MQ-9A Reaper systems.
