Robots, AI and drones: how the Dutch navy is using tech to transform its sea defences

Uncrewed systems are the future for armed forces and the Netherlands is leading the way ‘to keep people out of danger zones’ On each side of the target ship, a black vessel keeps a watchful distance. Defender 1 and Defender 2 are the eyes and ears of the navy – but they have nobody onboard, and their paths are controlled by a computer system. This is the future of the Royal Netherlands Navy, according to Capt Sjoerd Feenstra, head of the expertise centre for unmanned systems.