State Secretary for Defence Derk Boswijk has signed a letter of intent this week with Electro Optic Systems (EOS). The letter covers further work on EOS' Apollo High Energy Laser Weapon technology, which is designed for counter-drone defence.
Under the letter of intent the Netherlands Ministry of Defence and EOS will explore pathways for the Apollo High Energy Laser Weapon to become a fully operational weapon system for the Netherlands.
The parties will also explore the opportunity to establish a production facility in the Netherlands, supported by a Dutch-led European supply chain.
Under the intended arrangements, EOS would carry out production in the Netherlands.
Subject to further work, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence intends to purchase a number of laser weapon systems.
The EOS Apollo High Energy Laser Weapon converts energy into a high-power laser beam and has proved highly effective against drones.
With the availability and supply of ammunition not a constraint, the Apollo High Energy Laser Weapon offers a more effective and more cost-efficient complement to traditional kinetic air defence, and provides an important additional layer to counter-drone air defence.