The Dutch Royal Navy is carrying out tests off the coast of Den Helder, aiming to expand its use of unmanned systems for sea defence. According to reporting, the exercise focuses on platforms that operate without people onboard, including vessels positioned on either side of a target ship. These “Defender” units act as eyes and ears, with their monitoring roles and movement controlled by a computer system. The navy says the approach is designed to keep personnel out of danger zones while increasing operational capability. The tests are led by Capt Sjoerd Feenstra, head of the navy’s expertise centre for unmanned systems, who describes the work as part of a broader effort to assess the limits of systems that can function without direct human control or presence. The reporting characterizes the trial as a five-week mission to evaluate performance and determine how robots, AI-enabled software and unmanned platforms can be integrated into maritime defence tasks. Overall, the exercise reflects a shift toward armed forces using technology to enhance surveillance, reduce risk to crews, and improve responsiveness at sea.