A look at the Defence news 30 September - 6 October
The Netherlands Ministry of Defence has carried out two repatriation flights to bring approximately 350 people from the Lebanese capital of Beirut to the Netherlands. The group included Dutch nationals as well as others. They wanted to leave Lebanon due to the worsening security situation in the country.
The flights were carried out with an Airbus A330, part of a NATO pool of nine tanker and transport aircraft.
Following the F-16s, Brekelmans announces a drone action plan during Ukraine visit
During his visit to Kharkiv and Kyiv, Netherlands Minister of Defence Brekelmans announced that the Netherlands will make €400 million available for a drone action plan, thus continuing to play a leading role in the support of Ukraine. The minister also confirmed delivery of the first of 24 Dutch F-16 aircraft to Ukraine.
Construction of Orka class submarines to start
Within the next decade, Naval Group in France will be delivering the future HNLMS Orka and HNLMS Zwaardvis. HNLMS Barracuda and HNLMS Tijgerhaai will follow later. The Netherlands State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman and the Naval Group CEO Pierre Eric Pommellet officially signed the supply contract for the four submarines at a ceremony in Den Helder.