HNLMS Johan de Witt
Dutch Rotterdam-class amphibious transport dock; first NATO ship to certify V-BAT drones at sea.
Last refreshed: 5 April 2026
How did HNLMS Johan de Witt become NATO's first warship to certify V-BAT drones at sea?
Latest on HNLMS Johan de Witt
- What is HNLMS Johan de Witt?
- A Dutch Rotterdam-class amphibious transport dock (L801) commissioned in 2007, carrying up to 700 marines and drone systems.Source: background
- What drone was tested on HNLMS Johan de Witt?
- Shield AI's V-BAT UAS, declared fully operational on 30 March 2026 after Arctic trials.Source: background
- Is HNLMS Johan de Witt still in service?
- Yes; she remains the Netherlands' primary amphibious transport dock and NATO command platform.Source: background
- What class of ship is HNLMS Johan de Witt?
- Rotterdam-class landing platform dock (LPD), displacing approximately 12,750 tonnes fully loaded.Source: quick_facts
Background
HNLMS Johan de Witt served as the platform for Arctic sea trials of Shield AI's V-BAT unmanned aircraft system in early 2026. On 30 March 2026, the Royal Netherlands Navy declared V-BAT fully operational following those trials, making de Witt the first NATO warship from which a ship-launched V-BAT capability was operationally certified.
Johan de Witt (L801) is a Rotterdam-class amphibious transport dock commissioned in 2007. She displaces approximately 12,750 tonnes at full load and can carry up to 700 marines along with a combined air group of helicopters, landing craft, and drone systems. The ship is named after the 17th-century Dutch statesman and naval strategist Johan de Witt, and frequently serves as a NATO command platform for joint exercises.
As the primary Dutch amphibious vessel, Johan de Witt operates across NATO's northern and Atlantic flanks. Her role as a V-BAT certification platform signals that large amphibious ships are viable hosts for ship-launched ISR drones, a capability other NATO allies are now watching as they plan their own drone integration programmes.
