The Netherlands is rarely in the spotlight when it comes to military vehicles. Yet a company from Tiel (Defenture) now supplies vehicles to some of the most demanding military units in the world. Defenture started small, with a clear focus on quality and cooperation with the user, and grew into an international player. The basis of that success lies in a vehicle that has amply proven its value: the VECTOR.
Proven in Dutch service
The VECTOR, a light and highly mobile tactical vehicle from Defenture, has been in use with the Dutch commandos for years. Parts of the Air Assault Brigade now also use this vehicle. The VECTOR is designed for rapid deployment, air transport and operations in difficult terrain — exactly the conditions in which Dutch soldiers operate.
That the VECTOR is actually used in Dutch service is more than a detail. It means Defenture does not design its vehicles for the drawing board, but for the battlefield. The experience of Dutch soldiers formed the basis for further development, improvements and ultimately a new generation of vehicles.
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From light to heavy: a logical next step
With the VECTOR, Defenture proved it can build reliable and effective vehicles for special forces. Defenture’s founders have experience with the Dakar Rally, and they brought that experience into these vehicles. They are therefore made for the toughest conditions there are. The next step was logical: developing a heavier platform for missions that require more protection, more payload and more versatility. That is how the Mammoth came about.
The Mammoth is a medium tactical vehicle in the roughly 9-tonne class and is the focal point of Defenture’s current international ambitions. Where the VECTOR excels in speed and agility, the Mammoth offers extra capacity for long operations, heavier armament and more extensive communications and sensor systems.
German special forces as the ultimate yardstick
That Germany in particular came to Defenture for its new special forces vehicle is no coincidence. The German Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) were looking for a platform that went beyond existing standard vehicles. Flexible, robust and fully adaptable to their way of operating.
Since 2024, Mammoth-based vehicles have been tested by the Bundeswehr and the KSK. These tests are intensive and comprehensive. Not only mobility and reliability are assessed, but also how the vehicle functions as part of a larger system: with weapons, communications and cooperation with other units.
For Defenture, this is an important phase. The experience Germany is now gaining is used to further refine the platform — just as happened earlier with the VECTOR in Dutch service.
On the way to production in 2026
The German vehicles are currently in the test phase. Series production is expected to start around 2027. Several variants are involved; 49 vehicles have been ordered for now, but more will probably follow. For Defenture, this confirms that the Dutch company can also deliver on a larger scale to one of Europe’s largest armed forces.
Down-to-earth ambition and Dutch pride
What characterises Defenture is the combination of ambition and modesty. The company does not promote itself with grand words, but lets its vehicles do the work. First in the Netherlands, with the VECTOR with the commandos and air assault troops. Now in Germany, with the Mammoth in a demanding test programme. It also already has partnerships with Poland, Austria and Switzerland.
The plans for the future are clear: continuing to invest in modular platforms, close cooperation with users and technological innovation that comes directly from operational experience. Defenture does not want to be a supplier of individual vehicles, but a long-term partner for modern armed forces.
A story to be proud of
Defenture’s success shows what is possible when Dutch innovation is combined with practical experience and craftsmanship. From the VECTOR, used daily by Dutch soldiers, to the Mammoth, now being tested by German special forces: it is a line of growth, trust and quality. Being allowed to supply vehicles to the special forces of countries like these is something to be very proud of.
