Where the first quarter showed intent turning into engagement, the second quarter has been defined by direction, acceleration and deepened engagement. With the publication of the 2026 Defence White Paper (Defensienota 2026), the Netherlands set out a clear course for how it intends to strengthen its armed forces in the years ahead. Drawing on our […]
Since 2012, the Royal Netherlands Air Force has operated an NH90 simulator, enabling crews to train under a wide range of conditions. After more than 25,000 simulated flight hours flown by Dutch and international crews, a major upgrade was needed to keep the system current and operationally relevant. Over the past four years, this work […]
Four months into his new role at Unified International, Marco Kievit brings a unique perspective: 40 years of Defence, seen from the inside. With a career spanning complex international aviation programmes, operational roles and a posting as Defence Attaché in Rome, he has built up a deep understanding of how Defence thinks, decides and operates. […]
As European defence budgets continue to rise, Dutch companies are increasingly looking to capitalise on the wave of procurement opportunities ahead. But as a recent Financieel Dagblad article makes clear, securing defence contracts is far harder than it looks: Requiring long lead times, strict security and quality certifications, and the financial resilience to pre-fund significant upfront costs before […]