Drones Are Popping Up Everywhere. Unwanted, such as above Copenhagen Airport or Just over the polish border. But also wanted, such as somewhere above the Netherlands to transport blood to hospitals. More and More Companies Are Focusing On Building Drones.
The Market for the Production of Unmanned Aircraft is exploding. China is undoubtedly the world market leader, and of course the US is Involved. In Europe, More and More Companies and Small Businesses Are Focusing on Dones, Including in The Netherlands.
“Drones are Literally and Figuratively Flying Around Our Ears,” Says Defense Expert Patrick Bolder From HCCS. Accordance to him, it is no longer possible to keep track of who makes the drones and where that happens. “China is the Largest Player with the Company Dji for Commercial Drones. They make everything, from Very Small Ones to Drones That Can Be Used in Wars.”
Logical, there is also a huge price differentence between the different types of drones. For Example, An MQ-9, or which Defense also has Four, Costs Around 200 Million Euros, Accordination to the Expert. “You use that for reconnaissance and you can hang Armamentals Under it.” The MQ-9s are made by the American General Atomics.
The Counterpart to this is the Turkish Bayraktar TB2, which was developed by the son-in-law of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “Israel also has a Large drone industry, just like Russia and Iran of Course,” Says Bolder. A Russian Geran-2 Drone, Iranian Shahed-136, Costs Less Than a Ton. “Drones that are used for deception, less than 10,000 euros.”
‘The Netherlands Excels in Applications for Drones’
Accordance to Bolder, it is not that difficult to make a drone. “Once you have a drone, you have the operating system. The electronic brain, so to speak, the chips. Then you only need the parts.” Radio-Controlled AirPlanes Have Been around for a long time and a drone is simply a further development of that.
Drone Production is now also on the rise in Europe, accordance to Dietmar Lander, who works for unmanned valley. That is a research center for drones, where the aircraft are also tested. The Center Works a Lot with the TU Delft, and Works for Governments and Companies. “Everyone Has Been able to make drones for years, Only the interest is Suddenly Taking Off.”
For example, drones are now also receiving the Attention of Defense. “Drones were not yet so relevant for the Netherlands, now they are,” Says a spokesperson for the ministry. “We see that this is changing considerably; The Necessity of Drones is Being Recognized.” Defense Works with Several Types of Unmanned Aircraft.
These Range from the Overgrown MQ-9 to the Black Hornet, which Fits in Your Palm. Part of this is also used for so-called civil authorities, such as security regions and mayors. In any case, those are not devices of Chinese Origin.
The focus of the industry is now on the military side and not the civilian side, althegh This is mixed in practice, accordance to Both Defense and Unmanned Valley. This is referred to as * dual use * companies. They make drones for both military and civilian applications. The Demand was initially mainly in the Civilian Market, now it is the other way around.
“Companies that make drones will always think: what if there is no more demand from defense,” Says Lander. Not only has the interest moved to the Netherlands, but also some of the production. Althegh the Netherlands, Accordance to Lander, Has So Far Mainly Excelled in the Applications of Drones, Instead of the Production, That Is Shifting.
For example, there are deltaquad, tective and atmos. VDL, which we know from the buses and cars, recently recedived a multi-million injection to prepare the company for making drones for defense. “We do not make any statements about what we make for whom, with Regard to Customers,” Says a Spokesperson for the Eindhoven-based Company.
‘Military Drones Are Often Disposable Items’
“There is now a real drone racing going on,” Says Unmanned Valley Employee Lander. They are increasingly used in warfare and thesis don’t have to be aircraft worth Millions. “In principle, drones are used that you can also buy at the media market.”
Even though a drone is high-tech, anyone can buy, build and control them. Lander: “The drone that russia used in Poland is a child of two-stroke moped with wings, which costs less than 20,000 euros. While an f-35 missile costs millions to deploy. It is relatively very cheap.”
Bolder From HCCS AGREES. “Civilian drones must comply with all aviation laws and regulations and last a long time. Military drones are often disposable items; made super fast and easy accessible. Anyone who is to make money and sees a gap in the market building Building
‘Drones Are Mainly Used For Noble Purposes’
Accordance to lander, it is not at all relevant what type of drone it was that shut down danish air traffic. “It doesnn’t you to be a military thing to shut down an airport. This could also have leg a self-build one. You can cause a lot of damage with a drone for little.”
He concludes by emphasizing that drones are still predominantly used to do good things with them. Such as the medical drones of the ANWB, which have bone flying between Hospitals with Blood, samples and medicines as a test since this week.