The Dutch Ministry of Defence has, on behalf of the Ukraine Task Force, signed a contract with the Ede-based subsidiary Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V. to supply 20 Ermine vehicles. The Minister of Defence signed the contract with Rheinmetall on the 24th of June during the NATO Industry Summit in The Hague. The variants now ordered are manned/unmanned ground vehicles. These are to be delivered to the Ukrainian armed forces, strengthening their capability for casualty evacuation near the frontline. The vehicles are to be delivered in 2026. In this configuration, a cooperation with other Dutch companies like DEMCON defense & security systems B.V. & Abiom Communication Systems (ACS) B.V. has been set up as a force multiplier. This national cooperation among industry and MoD will further develop knowledge and capabilities for the Armed Forces of the Netherlands and Ukraine. This contract marks the first significant milestone for the Ermine and will, by supporting the Ukraine armed forces, also boost the defence industry in the Netherlands.
Quote by Coen van Leeuwen, CEO of Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V.: “We are grateful for the trust in our capacities. Ermine is an innovative and capable solution for the modern battlefield.”
The Ermine (Hermelin) family of small vehicles represents a new generation of mobility, combining tactical transport with a mobile energy source (microgrid). Operational creativity is at the core Ermine’s design. Its features enable it to act as an effective force multiplier. The modular Ermine family currently consists of an UGV, a side-by-side buggy and a quad. Various 4×4 and 6×6 variants are available. All vehicles are based on the same diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain and base platform. This gives the Ermine maximum modularity with unrivalled agility. Thanks to the hybrid technology, up to one ton of payload, and a range of more than 1,000 kilometres are possible, depending on the vehicle’s configuration. Up to four Ermine vehicles can be transported by cargo helicopters such as the CH-47 or CH-53.
Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V. (RD-NL) in Ede is part of the Vehicle Systems division and is a 100% subsidiary of Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH. Within the Boxer consortium ARTEC, RD-NL is the Dutch partner where the Boxer armoured vehicle has been developed and built together with the German industry. The Dutch Boxer vehicles were developed and built in Ede, and Boxer vehicles for other countries are currently being built in Ede as well as support provided in the development process. In addition to new Boxer production and development, maintenance and continued development is also done on Boxer, but also on other military vehicles. From Ede, RD-NL is responsible for the supply of all Rheinmetall vehicles and materials as well as the provision of all services for Dutch users. Based on the One-Stop-Shop concept, we produce, maintain and overhaul various vehicles, including BOXER and Fuchs in different versions. Furthermore, we supply all products that enable Dutch users to carry out maintenance and repairs themselves.
