Danish defence technology company Sky-Watch has been awarded a contract from the Netherlands Ministry of Defence for the delivery of the RQ-35 Heidrun unmanned aerial system to the Dutch armed forces. The agreement covers deliveries in 2026 and a seven-year support programme.
According to a press release from Sky-Watch, the procurement was conducted by the Dutch armed forces' materiel and IT organisation COMMIT. The company will deliver a number of unmanned aerial systems, integrate them into operations, and take responsibility for training, deployment, and long-term maintenance.
The RQ-35 Heidrun has been selected for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions at company level within NATO-aligned operations. According to Sky-Watch, the selection was based in part on the system's ability to operate in environments where satellite navigation is disrupted or unavailable, its software-based architecture, and a European supply chain.
«This contract confirms Sky-Watch's ability to deliver and sustain mission-critical ISR capabilities in demanding operational environments. Having been selected in open competition against leading American and European suppliers strengthens our operational credibility and our ability to execute complex programmes from delivery and integration to long-term support,» says Martin Schousboe, Chief Executive Officer of Sky-Watch.
The company also states that the RQ-35 Heidrun has been used operationally in Ukraine, and that the platform can be continuously upgraded through software updates without the need to replace hardware.