The Netherlands is set to provide 20 Rheinmetall-made Ermine manned and unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine.
The Netherlands is set to provide 20 Rheinmetall-made Ermine manned and unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine.
A contract with an undisclosed amount was signed between the Dutch defense ministry, acting on behalf of the Ukraine Task Force, and Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V. during the NATO Industry Summit held in The Hague.
Deliveries are scheduled for 2026, and Ukraine’s armed forces will utilize the vehicles to enhance casualty evacuation capabilities near the frontlines.
Dutch companies Demcon and Abiom Communication Systems were also included in the initiative, supporting the local defense industry and Kyiv’s battlefield resilience.
Furthermore, the contract marks the platform’s “first significant milestone,” according to Rheinmetall.
“We are grateful for the trust in our capacities. Ermine is an innovative and capable solution for the modern battlefield,” said Rheinmetall’s Dutch subsidiary CEO, Coen van Leeuwen.
The Ermine Vehicle
Also known as “Hermelin,” the modular, lightweight Ermine hybrid platform was built to act as a force multiplier. It combines tactical full-electrical transport with a mobile energy source (microgrid).
Ermine vehicles — comprising a 4x4 manned quad, a 4x4 and 6x6 side-by-side buggy, and an uncrewed ground vehicle — feature the same diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain and base platform that enable nearly silent movement.
Depending on the configuration, the vehicle can carry up to one ton of payload and travel at a speed of 90 kilometers (56 miles) per hour, covering a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).
Cargo helicopters such as the CH-47 or CH-53 can accommodate up to four Ermines.
The Ermine vehicle line is based on the same diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain and base platform. Photo: Rheinmetall