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?
Timeline for HNLMS Johan de Witt
Dutch Navy Declares V-BAT Fully Operational
Drones: Industry & DefenceWhat is HNLMS Johan de Witt?
What drone was tested on HNLMS Johan de Witt?
Is HNLMS Johan de Witt still in service?
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.
What class of ship is HNLMS Johan de Witt?
