Dutch Warship Just Shot Down a Swarm of Attack Drones off UK Coast

Dutch Warship Just Shot Down a Swarm of Attack Drones off UK Coast

In January 2026, Royal Netherlands Navy air-defense frigate HNLMS Evertsen joined NATO’s Exercise Sharpshooter at the U.K. MOD Aberporth range, about 20 miles off the Welsh coast. Across three days, the ship faced coordinated attacks using QinetiQ’s Banshee Whirlwind aerial drone targets, Hammerhead uncrewed surface vessels, and virtual threats. The Dutch Navy said Evertsen destroyed five aerial drones and neutralized two surface targets, highli…