Defence and DeltaQuad: Building it Together
Devon Willems, Operational Support Pilot at DeltaQuad, was interviewed about the collaboration between Defence and DeltaQuad on the innovative Network in the Sky (NITS) project.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence is investing heavily in partnerships with industry. For example, intensive work is being done on an airborne communications network via drones. To this end, the Command & Control Support Command of the Royal Netherlands Army and the civilian company DeltaQuad have joined forces.
With a loud and clear ‘take off’, the first unmanned aircraft took to the skies. The Harskamp Infantry Firing Range in the Netherlands has been chosen as the stage to ‘show’ what the cooperation with DeltaQuad has delivered: drones that create connections with each other in the air. Together they form a network that enables fast and reliable communication on the ground." Even in remote areas and in challenging environments, for example with many trees or high infrastructure where a mast would otherwise interfere.
The idea for a network with the help of drones originated on the work floor. Radios that only worked up to about five kilometres caused frustrations. Surely this had to be possible differently and better? A plan was drawn up, funding made available, and in early 2022 the ball started rolling. Concept Development & Experimentation (CD&E) of the army set up the plan, together with the Command & Control Support Command (C2OstCo) and DeltaQuad. DeltaQuad turned out to be the ideal partner, taking a collaborative approach of ‘let’s build this together’ rather than simply asking ‘what would you like to purchase?. Bravo Company of C2OstCo became the executor of the plan. The end result: several unmanned aircraft, the ability to create connections in the air through which communication on the ground can take place, and soldiers trained to work with the drones.
Communicator Nick, who at Bravo Company of C2OstCo is involved in setting up masts to enable radio coverage, for example, has been involved in this project since last year. “A drone is flexible. Putting it together only takes a few minutes. Setting up a mast can take about two hours and if you are in a tactical scenario, that is quite a long time.” Such a mast was necessary for traditional wireless networks to transmit data. But by creating a Network in the Sky (NITS) the process has become much simpler.
Flying versus technology
During the large exercise Bold Quest in America last year, this concept was tried out for the first time. Nick and his colleagues first followed an internal course with a small drone to learn the basic skills of flying. In the United States, Devon Willems, Operational Support Pilot of DeltaQuad, trained them further.
Strong defence industry
Defence wants more cooperation with industry, such as with DeltaQuad. The government has allocated more than one billion euros to strengthen the Dutch defence industry, as stated in the Defence Memorandum 2024. Defence will spend 310 million euros this year.
Due to the increased threats, more production and innovation are needed. The focus is on five areas: smart materials such as 3D printing, sensors (for example radars), quantum computers, space technology and intelligent systems such as drones and AI technology.
The technical knowledge of DeltaQuad was badly needed, as Defence did not have it in-house. Devon also gave tips to ensure flying went smoothly. “There are a few clever minds in this unit who bring a lot of enthusiasm, but 95 percent literally knew nothing about drones at the start. That makes it hard to simply say: ‘just take it out of the box, charge the battery and you’re ready to go’.S” For DeltaQuad it was important to know what soldiers encounter in the field. Nick: “In America, for example, we noticed that some interference occurred in the frame of the drone. So we were able to give immediate feedback; we test the system and then they can expand the design. We are trained to operate the drones, they have the expertise when it comes to the technical side.”
The bond between C2OstCo and DeltaQuad has become close, with short lines of communication. Nick: “Devon has really become a direct colleague. He was also present throughout the entire exercise in America. And we are all in a WhatsApp group. If there is a question, you get a reply almost immediately. I know Devon well now; it is just as if he is a military colleague.”
Mission-oriented
For Devon himself, cooperation with Defence was new. But in the meantime he has completely settled in. “I am used to Defence starting nice and early. So if a soldier says: ‘we will be there at ten o’clock’, then it is good to double-check that because usually soldiers start much earlier,” he says laughing. Are there differences between working with soldiers or a civilian party? “Here it is more mission-oriented, there really is a goal. That drone just has to fly. And if that means using duct tape and cable ties, then so be it. In the civilian world they have to look nicer but the drones are not used as much as here.”
This article was originally published in the Defence magazine Sterker.