The Netherlands Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V. to deliver 20 Ermine ground vehicles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The agreement, signed on 24 June during the NATO Industry Summit in The Hague, was made on behalf of the Netherlands-led Ukraine Task Force.
The vehicles will support frontline operations by enhancing casualty evacuation capabilities. Deliveries are scheduled for 2026. The selected configuration includes both manned and unmanned variants, developed in cooperation with Dutch companies DEMCON defense & security systems B.V. and Abiom Communication Systems B.V.
The Ermine vehicle family includes a range of small tactical platforms based on a common diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain. The modular design allows for multiple 4×4 and 6×6 configurations, including unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), buggies, and quads. Depending on the configuration, the vehicles can carry up to one ton of payload and operate over distances exceeding 1,000 kilometers. They are also compatible with transport by cargo helicopters such as the CH-47 and CH-53.
This order represents the first major deployment of the Ermine platform and is expected to contribute to both Ukraine’s operational mobility and the further development of defense industry capabilities within the Netherlands.