The project, coordinated and financed by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, will be carried out in close cooperation with VDL Defentec, which will oversee final assembly at its facility in Born, the Netherlands. The announcement was made during a formal signing ceremony attended by Dutch Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans, Milrem Robotics, and VDL representatives.
Under the agreement, Milrem Robotics Netherlands will manage production and delivery in partnership with VDL Defentec, which is establishing a dedicated final assembly line for the THeMIS vehicles. The new line is designed with scalability in mind, enabling expansion for future production and exports.
Milrem Robotics will also provide comprehensive training to Ukrainian operators and maintenance personnel to ensure efficient use and support in operational conditions.
“We are honoured to lead this project in partnership with the Netherlands and VDL,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics. “The THeMIS platform has already demonstrated its value under combat conditions, and we believe this contribution will materially strengthen Ukraine’s defence capability.”
“This initiative highlights the strength of cooperation within Europe’s defence industry and its ability to scale up to meet urgent security needs,” added Willem van der Leegte, CEO of VDL Groep. “Establishing the assembly line in Born supports this donation and lays the groundwork for future production and innovation between Milrem Robotics and VDL.”
The upcoming vehicles will add to the 15 THeMIS UGVs already in Ukrainian service, where they have been deployed for logistics and support missions since 2022.
The THeMIS (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System) is a combat-proven, modular unmanned vehicle platform developed by Milrem Robotics. Designed for supporting dismounted troops, logistics, reconnaissance, and combat operations, THeMIS has been adopted by 19 countries, making it the most widely used UGV in its class worldwide.
