The Russian invasion of Ukraine and Moscow’s increasingly provocative actions on NATO territory have placed unprecedented pressure on European defence and its industrial base.
In response, the Benelux countries, which comprise Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, are seeking to enhance their cooperation to become more agile and raise their profile in the defence sector.
Brigadier General Gunther Godefridis, responsible for development and readiness in cyber and drone operations within the Belgian armed forces, warns that Europe is facing a "real threat". Weapon systems, including drones, must be quickly adapted and upgraded, while production capacities need to be ramped up to meet demand, he warns.
According to him, now is a time of "hybrid threats that are present every day across Europe", which emphasises the urgency of the challenge and the need for increased defence measures.
Godefridis points to the breakneck pace of technological development, which is so rapid that integrating new technology into existing systems is sometimes a "real challenge".
Production volumes also need to increase substantially. "What we are seeing in Ukraine is on a very large scale", and Europe's industries are currently not ready to produce these quantities, he resumes.
Recognising that joint efforts are more effective, representatives from the defence industries of all three Benelux countries met in Antwerp on Monday to sign a new agreement.
The aim is to pool expertise, strengthen their collective influence, and increase visibility as security demands rise.
André Wilmes, President of Luxdefence, explained that the main idea is "really to connect the three countries and their industrial bases more closely in the long term".
This will improve the exchange of technology, create more business opportunities, and enable to jointly produce larger systems more rapidly in the future, according to him. He also noted that the region already has a large presence in the defence sector.
While the defence industry is often associated with major players such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, or Italy, Wilmes emphasised that companies in the Benelux region have no reason to hide.
Some operate under a veil of discretion. RTL sought to interview a Luxembourg-based firm producing drone components alongside its civilian products, but the interview was cancelled at the last minute.
Others are more open about their growth, with one company expanding its workforce from eight to 50 employees within a year.
Nicolas Zharov of Luxembourg’s LUXUAV, which manufactures drones for Ukraine, described the company’s rapid expansion, as they have doubled their production and plan to double it again in the coming months.
Furthermore, they have just signed a memorandum of understanding with one of the largest drone manufacturers in Ukraine for operations in Belgium and Luxembourg, which Zharov believes will increase their capacities even further.
Meeting production targets is one challenge; continuously adapting technology is another. Nicolas Zharov sees Luxembourg’s SES as a potential key player in this field.
In his opinion, the most important thing is "autonomy in drones and connectivity", which is "exactly what we are trying to solve".
Luxembourg is well positioned, thanks to LUXUAV's expertise in the space sector. The goal, Zharov concludes, is to transfer this know-how down to the stratosphere and to the people om the ground.
Challenges remain, and political support is needed to overcome regulatory hurdles, stresses Ariadne Petridis, Secretary-General of the Benelux Union. She believes harmonised legislation at the European level is essential.
For example, police forces in the Benelux countries have long worked together across borders on the ground, but common rules for operating drones in shared airspace are still lacking.
