Dutch defence
News about the Dutch armed forces, Dutch procurement and the Dutch defence industry.
Modernised Dutch CV90 gets new teeth: the Spike LR2 missile can be fired beyond line of sight (video)
The Royal Netherlands Army is modernising its CV90s with new fire control, sensors and data links. The most important addition is the Spike LR2 missile, which can also hit targets out of the vehicle’s sight.
A story to be proud of: Defenture delivers 49 Mammoth vehicles to German Special Forces (videos)
Defenture from Tiel is delivering 49 Mammoth vehicles to German special forces. The company’s lighter VECTOR vehicle has been in use for years with Dutch commandos and the Air Assault Brigade.
Dutch radar expert Robin Radar teams up with Origin Robotics: a new dimension in drone defence
Robin Radar Systems from The Hague is linking its IRIS radar to Origin Robotics’ BLAZE interceptor drone. The radar detects hostile drones, after which BLAZE intervenes on its own within seconds.
The Netherlands as a high-tech hotspot: Destinus builds jet-powered and hypersonic drones in Born
Destinus is developing jet-powered drones and hypersonic aircraft in Born, partly with VDL Nedcar. In 2025 the company took over Dutch drone maker Aerialtronics.
Robin Radar: the company supplying the Dutch armed forces with 100 modern radars.
In early November 2025 the Dutch Ministry of Defence ordered one hundred drone radars from Robin Radar Systems. The first went straight to airfields and air bases; the rest follow in phases in 2026.
Dutch navy ship shows spectacular use of SRBOC decoy system
During a night exercise in the High North, the Dutch navy ship HNLMS Van Amstel fired its Mark 36 SRBOC decoys. The system disrupts radar with metal particles and misleads heat-seeking missiles with fake heat sources.
AI Armaments leads unique collaboration: fully Dutch system to take out drones (video)
AI Armaments has built an anti-drone weapon on Defenture’s VECTOR 4x4 with a radar from Robin Radar Systems. It is a fully Dutch system; the Ministry of Defence has not yet placed an order.
Super-fast new boat for Dutch marines: 65 km/h at sea and ready for the future
The Netherlands Marine Corps is getting new fast landing craft from Finland’s Alutech, derived from the Watercat M12. The boats reach 35 knots, about 65 kilometres per hour, using waterjet propulsion.
NOMADS: why the Netherlands is choosing a unique air defence vehicle that moves with the troops.
The Netherlands is acquiring NOMADS, an air defence system on an armoured tracked vehicle that can go to the front with its own troops. It protects units against drones, helicopters and cruise missiles.
PULS system gives the Royal Netherlands Army ballistic missile capability for the first time (Video)
With the Predator Hawk missile for the PULS system, the Royal Netherlands Army gets a ballistic missile for the first time. The supersonic precision missile has a range of 300 kilometres.
The Netherlands buys Harop drones: what does this mean for the navy? (Video)
The Royal Netherlands Navy’s new support vessels can carry container systems on deck, including Israeli-made Harop loitering munitions. The Harop can hunt radars and has a range of almost 1,000 kilometres.
The Barak-ER: the Israeli missile that gives the Dutch navy more options. (Video)
The Israeli Barak-ER air defence missile is coming to the Royal Netherlands Navy’s new support vessels. It has a range of up to 150 kilometres and can also intercept tactical ballistic missiles.
Why the Dutch navy’s new support vessels provide much more striking power.
Damen is building two support vessels for the Royal Netherlands Navy that can carry containers with air defence, long-range munitions and electronic warfare equipment. They enter service in 2026.
Why the Scanias are now being armoured after all
The Dutch Ministry of Defence is fitting almost 300 Scania Gryphus trucks with a fully armoured cab. The chassis has to be reinforced for this; the trigger is drone attacks on logistics vehicles in Ukraine.
Will the new Dutch precision weapon come from an unexpected quarter? The quiet rise of Destinus
State Secretary Gijs Tuinman wants a Dutch long-range precision weapon, preferably produced at home and possibly developed within six months. Destinus, which already makes missiles for Ukraine, is coming into view.
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