Dutch Frigate Masters Drone Swarm Defense in Advanced UK Training

In the shifting tides of modern warfare, adaptation is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. This principle was on full display off the Welsh coast, where the Dutch air-defense frigate HNLMS Evertsen recently completed its first stint in Exercise Sharpshooter, a high-intensity training series orchestrated by QinetiQ. For three days, Evertsen and her crew found themselves at the center of a simulated storm: defending against swarms of drones and unmanned surface vehicles, all under the watchful eyes of allied trainers and evaluators.

Held at MOD Aberporth, Exercise Sharpshooter has become a proving ground for navies seeking to grapple with the growing threat posed by drone swarms—those unpredictable, fast-moving packs that can overwhelm traditional defenses. The Dutch participation marked a new chapter for the Royal Netherlands Navy, which, until now, had not trained under such immersive, multi-layered conditions.

According to QinetiQ and reporting from UK Defence Journal and El-Balad, Evertsen’s crew tracked and neutralized a blend of live and synthetic targets. The lineup included five aerial drones, two Hammerhead unmanned surface vehicles, and virtual threats simulating cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and hostile aircraft. The exercise merged the tangible and the digital: Banshee Whirlwind drones zipped through the air, Hammerhead vehicles churned the sea, and virtual adversaries lurked in computer-generated skies.

Commander Marcel Keveling, leading Evertsen’s crew, described the experience as transformative. “To be able to fire at live targets and keep our crew in a higher state of readiness for multiple days has taught us many lessons we aim to take with us when sailing on an operational level,” he said. The operational pressure and sustained tempo forced the crew to adapt, improvise, and sharpen their responses—a microcosm of the unpredictable world navies now navigate.

What sets Sharpshooter apart is its hybrid nature. The training is not just a live-fire exercise; it’s a fusion of reality and simulation, designed to push participants beyond the boundaries of routine drills. QinetiQ’s subsidiary, Inzpire, tailored threat scenarios to mimic attacks on critical assets, forcing crews to make decisions in real time, with little margin for error.

For the Dutch, the lessons learned go beyond technical proficiency. The exercise underscored the importance of allied cooperation in the face of rapidly evolving threats. Will Blamey, QinetiQ’s chief executive for UK Defence, put it succinctly: “With interoperability between nations more important than ever, these exercises give the UK and its allies the opportunity to train alongside each other, sharing tactics and learnings to improve readiness.” The joint training reflects a broader commitment to shared security, where tactics and technologies are exchanged, and mutual trust is built in the crucible of high-stress scenarios.

Sharpshooter is not a one-off event. It’s part of a year-long programme running throughout 2025, with previous iterations involving the Royal Navy’s HMS Dauntless. The program sits within the UK’s Long-Term Partnering Agreement, which supports multi-domain training at sixteen sites nationwide—a sprawling network designed to keep allied forces one step ahead of emerging threats.

The strategic value of such exercises can’t be overstated. As drone technology proliferates and adversaries grow more sophisticated, navies must be able to defend against attacks that may come from the air, the surface, or even cyberspace. The ability to blend live and virtual training ensures that crews are not just reacting to yesterday’s threats, but are actively preparing for tomorrow’s.

For HNLMS Evertsen, the three days off the Welsh coast were more than a drill—they were a glimpse into the future of naval operations. The crew faced the unfamiliar and responded with professionalism and agility, proving that readiness is built not in comfort, but in challenge.

Looking ahead, Exercise Sharpshooter is set to continue shaping the way allied navies prepare for multi-domain conflict. As the program evolves, it will likely incorporate even more complex scenarios and a wider array of participants, driving innovation and resilience across the fleet.

In a world where threats can materialize in unexpected forms and places, the lessons of Sharpshooter are clear: preparedness demands realism, cooperation, and a willingness to learn from every engagement, simulated or otherwise.

The Dutch frigate’s performance during Exercise Sharpshooter is a powerful reminder that readiness is not a static achievement but an ongoing journey. By blending live and synthetic threats, navies like the Royal Netherlands Navy are actively shaping their ability to respond to tomorrow’s challenges—where the line between simulation and reality is increasingly blurred, and adaptability is the key to survival.