A third MQ-9 Reaper will be returned to the Netherlands to allow for increased national operations. The remaining drones will assist in NATO’s Air Shielding operations, monitoring the security situation along the alliance’s border.
Equipped with advanced sensors, the MQ-9 Reapers provide crucial aerial reconnaissance, helping to create a comprehensive situational overview. While the mission directly supports NATO, it remains under Dutch national command, ensuring that the Netherlands decides how to fulfil intelligence requests.
The information collected by the drones is processed under Dutch national responsibility. The Netherlands determines which intelligence needs to be addressed and how the gathered data is utilised.
The operation involves approximately 120 personnel, with around 35 Dutch military staff stationed at Campia Turzii Air Base in Romania for maintenance and security. The majority of the team, based at Leeuwarden Air Base in the Netherlands, is responsible for mission planning, drone operations, and intelligence analysis.
Source: Dutch Ministry of Defence.
