Key facts
- Dutch company Intelic is developing AI software called Nexus to integrate different drone systems for Ukraine's military.
- The Nexus system aims to act as a 'connecting tissue' between over 700 drone manufacturers in Europe.
- Intelic's software allows for AI-powered identification and verification of enemy drones using multiple sensors.
- The Dutch Defence Ministry has a €30-million contract with Intelic to upgrade its air defense systems.
- The Netherlands has allocated about €1.4 billion since 2022 to Ukraine's drone program.
A Dutch technology firm, Intelic, is developing artificial intelligence software to help Ukraine's military integrate and communicate between its diverse fleet of drones. The company's Nexus system aims to act as a 'connecting tissue' for the hundreds of drone manufacturers supplying Ukraine, enabling better coordination and faster response times against Russian attacks.
During a demonstration at a Dutch airbase in late September, Intelic showcased how its AI-powered Nexus software could use multiple sensors, including radars and cameras, to identify and verify an incoming projectile as an enemy drone. While a human made the final decision to launch an interceptor drone in the test, the system could eventually operate autonomously, according to Intelic CEO Maurits Korthals Altes. He noted that at high speeds, manual interception is difficult, necessitating more autonomous systems.
Intelic, which has an office in Kyiv, is assisting Ukrainian forces as they face intensified Russian drone and missile barrages. The company's technology is seen as crucial in a war where drones have become a transformative element, driving rapid innovation. Anika Kempter, a senior software engineer at Intelic, explained that Ukrainian brigades often use drones from different vendors with incompatible systems, and Nexus aims to solve this by connecting them into a single platform.
The Dutch government is a significant supporter of Ukraine's drone capabilities, having allocated approximately €1.4 billion since 2022 to its drone program. Figures from the Kiel Institute show that European aid for drones has increased substantially since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The Netherlands has provided over €12.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine since 2022, including nearly one million drones.