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General Atomics, Dutch MOD on Next-Generation sUAS
General Atomics and the Dutch Defence Ministry announced a joint program on October 17, 2025 to develop a next-generation sUAS for NATO ISR needs.
The agreement, unveiled on October 17, 2025, pairs General Atomics with the Dutch Defence Ministry to design a next-generation sUAS (small unmanned aircraft system) for the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). The program aims to expand intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for NATO operations across Europe while deepening US–Dutch defense cooperation.
Project briefings say the platform will emphasize advanced autonomy, encrypted — or secure — communications links, and modular payload bays that can swap mission sensors quickly. Those features reflect growing European investment in unmanned systems as member states seek more resilient ISR options amid evolving security challenges on the continent.
What the next-generation sUAS will deliver
Officials described the effort as pragmatic: a scalable sUAS architecture intended for frontline NATO missions, training, and coalition interoperability. The RNLAF will be the initial operator, and further integration with NATO command-and-control is expected as testing progresses.
- Key focuses: autonomy, secure communications, modular payloads — all central to the next-generation sUAS concept.
The announcement underscores both technology and diplomacy. For General Atomics it extends a portfolio already familiar to allied forces; for the Dutch Defence Ministry it signals investment in domestic and NATO-ready unmanned capability. Exact timelines, production volumes and platform designators were not disclosed in the initial release.
