The Kongsberg Group has signed a significant contract with Oshkosh Defense Europe for the delivery of weapon stations for drone defense to the Royal Netherlands Armed Forces. Under this agreement, remotely operated weapon stations of the Protector RS4 type are procured, equipped with the special Protector Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) technology. These highly developed defense systems are to be integrated on Oshkosh’s rugged Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) to optimally protect the Dutch ground forces on the modern battlefield.
Protector RS4 for Drone Defense
In view of the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles in today’s conflicts, the procurement aims to significantly expand the Netherlands’ capabilities to detect, track, and counter hostile drones. The officials of both companies emphasized that the combination of the high mobility and survivability of the JLTV platform and Kongsberg’s technological expertise in the field of drone defense makes a decisive contribution to strengthening NATO’s collective resilience.
The Protector RS4 system is a proven, modular, remotely operated weapon system that is already in service with numerous armed forces worldwide. In the configuration with the CUAS solution, it enables operators to precisely neutralize both individual drone units and complex attack scenarios. The agreement underscores the long-standing and successful partnership between the involved industry companies and the Dutch armed forces in the field of military modernization.
Kaaiman: JLTV for the Marine Corps
The Netherlands ordered initially 150 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) from Oshkosh in June 2025, and the scope was expanded to 178 vehicles at the beginning of 2026. The vehicles in the Dutch Expeditionary Patrol Vehicles (DXPV) version are to be introduced under the designation Kaaiman for the Marine Corps starting in 2028.
Author: Gerhard Heiming, Editor, Wehrwirtschaft
