The contract has been awarded under an Industrial Participation Programme and reflects the long-running cooperation between Lockheed Martin and the Dutch industry. The partnership aims to create a human–machine teaming agent that improves pilot performance, operational safety and mission effectiveness.
The concept combines advanced cockpit systems, artificial intelligence enabled technologies, biometric sensing and high-level modelling to support pilots more effectively. The project will deliver a framework to assess pilot condition states and human–machine cooperation, along with demonstrations in single-vehicle and multi-ship scenarios.
Once complete, the e-Pilot is expected to strengthen Dutch industry by improving mission safety and execution through enhanced human–machine teaming. NLR’s expertise in aerospace research across TRL 3 to 7 will support the transfer of knowledge to Dutch partners and accelerate the path from research to operational use.
“This collaboration accelerates the development of intelligent pilot-support technologies that strengthen both the Dutch defence capability and our national innovation ecosystem. The e-Pilot concept also offers significant potential for civil aviation applications, contributing to safer, smarter, and more efficient flight operations. By bridging manned and unmanned domains, this initiative reinforces the leading role of the Netherlands in human–machine teaming and intelligent aerospace systems”, Tineke van der Veen, CEO of Royal NLR, states.
Lockheed Martin will share technologies developed over the past decade, with Dutch partners including Elitac Wearables, 2M Engineering and TNO contributing to the effort. JC Dicke, Commissioner for Military Production of the Netherlands, said: “This project underlines the importance of a solid Dutch consortium consisting of state-of-the-art knowledge institutes and dedicated, specialised industry partners teaming up with Lockheed Martin to accelerate research and development in the field of human–machine interaction. This project will enable the Dutch Forces to use this to their advantage in both training and missions.” “This illustrates the importance of the win-win-win Industrial Participation Policy where the OEM, the Dutch industrial base and the Forces all benefit”.
Keith Higginbotham, Lockheed Martin Aerospace Physiology & Human Performance technical lead, said: “The ability to predict what will happen next and autonomously provide correction or take action to assist the pilot is a key feature of an e-Pilot (digital twin) that can augment human cognitive and physiological limitations, playing a critical role to enhance survivability and mission effectiveness”. He added: “This project will enhance Dutch industry in supporting military pilots with the latest cutting-edge technologies. It also reinforces the importance of international collaboration and a strong Industrial Participation partnership.”
Joe Krapf, Lockheed Martin Industrial Participation Country Manager, states: “Lockheed Martin looks forward to continuing its partnership with the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre and Dutch industry subject-matter experts.” He said the initiative “will enhance NLR’s capabilities in developing software packages supporting Dutch military and commercial pilots.”
