Ukraine, Netherlands Begin Work on Bliksem Air Defence System

Ukrainian and Dutch defence companies have begun work on a joint air defence project called Bliksem. The initiative was launched during a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.

Zelenskyy posted on X that the two leaders met with executives from defence, energy, and software firms. He stated that the teams were tasked with developing the specific air defence system and that work had already commenced. "Our teams have been tasked with working out a specific air defence project, Bliksem," Zelenskyy wrote. "We have already started this work."

The president noted that the cooperation aims to produce industrial, technological, and social results for both nations. He did not provide technical details about the Bliksem system. Zelenskyy added that the leaders identified priorities for economic cooperation, including defence production, joint technology, energy projects, and satellite technologies.

On October 28, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten announced that the Netherlands will allocate 500 million euros for military aid to Ukraine. This funding is specifically designated to strengthen air defence capabilities.

The Dutch government is also providing 1.2 billion euros in non-military aid over the next three years. This support is intended for recovery, reconstruction, and business expansion. Additionally, the Netherlands will contribute 10 million euros to the Industrial Ramstein initiative for Ukraine.