VDL Defentec
About
About VDL Defentec
VDL Defentec B.V. is VDL Groep's defence-vehicle manufacturing subsidiary in Born, Netherlands. Its robotics role is contract manufacturing and final assembly: Milrem Robotics provides the THeMIS platform and coordinates deliveries through its Dutch subsidiary, while VDL Defentec operates the local assembly capability.
The Born line opened in June 2026 with a flexible layout designed for rapid capacity scaling. Its first Dutch-built THeMIS units were handed to the Dutch government for onward delivery to Ukraine, supporting a Netherlands-funded programme of more than 100 UGVs. The facility forms part of a broader VDL and Dutch Ministry of Defence programme to expand domestic defence-production capacity.
Operations
Facilities & manufacturing
- Production setup
2026-06-04 - VDL Defentec opened a flexible THeMIS final-assembly line in Born and began production in June 2026. - VDL Defentec Born THeMIS final-assembly line - Born, Netherlands
Source
Output & shipments
- Deliveries
2026-06-04 - The first THeMIS vehicles manufactured in the Netherlands were handed to the Dutch government for onward delivery to Ukraine. - First output from the VDL Defentec Born line - Born production-line opening
Source
Timeline
Events
- 2026-06-04 - Facility Opening - Milrem and VDL open THeMIS production line in the Netherlands
The Born final-assembly line officially opened on 4 June 2026. The first Netherlands-manufactured THeMIS vehicles were handed over for onward delivery to Ukraine. The line was designed to scale production and accelerate deliveries when required.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- Milrem Robotics
Verified Relationship - VDL Defentec operates the Born final-assembly line for Milrem THeMIS vehicles.
Context
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Context tags
- Defence robotics systems integration - Capability - The subsidiary industrialises and assembles unmanned ground vehicles for a defence programme.
- Defence Manufacturing - Customer Environment - VDL Defentec operates the Born final-assembly line for THeMIS UGV production.
- Industrial manufacturing supplier - Peer Group - VDL Defentec provides manufacturing and final-assembly capability to a defence-system OEM.
- Defence unmanned-systems ecosystem - Stack Layer - The current manufacturing programme covers more than 100 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles.