A look at the Defence news 8 - 14 September
The Dutch government has shifted part of its budget for military support to Ukraine from 2026 to this year. This will in effect accelerate the provision of Dutch military support to Ukraine.
Since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion in 2022, the Dutch government has budgeted around €13.6 billion in military support. This illustrates that the Netherlands continues to stand together with Ukraine against Russian aggression. Netherlands Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans informed the House of Representatives accordingly last week.
Green light for making own defence satellites
The Netherlands Defence organisation is to start developing its own satellite capabilities. Until now, the organisation has used technology provided by other parties. By creating its own information system, the Netherlands armed forces will become less dependent on other countries, such as the United States, in the area of, for example, intelligence gathering. The State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman made an announcement to this effect during the Defence and Security Equipment International in London last week.
New army battalion manipulates and secures (digital) information
Last week, the Royal Netherlands Army established the 101 Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) battalion. The battalion's objective is to influence communication and computer systems. This can be done by deploying, for example, the Electromagnetic Attack capability, a technological gadget that can be built into armoured vehicles. It can disrupt radio communications, shut down computers, and open and close automated bridges and doors. It is also capable of manipulating information in enemy systems. As a result, adversaries can become confused and less able to cooperate with one another.