Dutch military backs Intelic's drone software with tens of millions of euros

This article was published on July 3, 2026 The three-year deal aims to let drones from different manufacturers operate under one command system, a lesson the Netherlands says it has drawn from Ukraine. The Netherlands’ Ministry of Defence is putting tens of millions of euros into Intelic, a Dutch startup whose software lets drones from competing manufacturers operate under a single command system. The three-year partnership centres on Intelic’s NEXUS platform, which the ministry wants to use to coordinate uncrewed systems across the armed forces rather than running each drone type through its own separate control software. Junior defence minister Derk Boswijk framed the investment as a lesson drawn directly from the war in Ukraine. “Ukraine teaches us that not only the hardware, but also the software is of great importance,” he said, adding that making different drone systems work together “makes the fight easier.” The line carries particular weight from a country that has watched the drone wall proposals among Russia’s neighbours move from concept to procurement. NEXUS has already seen use on the battlefield, according to Intelic, which says the platform has supported Ukrainian op