Netherlands orders Saab's Skeldar V-200 helicopter drones to strengthen anti-submarine warfare in North Sea

The Netherlands has reportedly awarded UMS Skeldar Sweden AB a contract for an uncrewed helicopter system intended to strengthen anti-submarine surveillance in the North Sea. The acquisition involves the Skeldar V-200, a rotary-wing drone capable of carrying mission equipment from ships or shore sites, and follows existing Dutch-Belgian cooperation on mine-countermeasures aviation. The reported ASW award does not disclose aircraft numbers, contract value, delivery dates or the selected sensor package. Its stated purpose is to improve maritime awareness around vulnerable offshore energy installations and subsea infrastructure, rather than establish a publicly specified operational configuration.