nltimes.nl
Saturday, 13 September 2025 - 08:15

The Royal Netherlands Army is deploying hackers to the front lines as part of the newly formed 101 CEMA Battalion, officials said Thursday. According to De Telegraaf, the unit, officially established in Stroe, merges companies specialized in electronic warfare and cyber operations.

Electronic warfare includes disrupting enemy communications and tracking opponents through signal detection. The Netherlands reportedly gained experience in Afghanistan, where specialists traveled in armored vehicles equipped with large antennas.

During early experiments, soldiers hacked webcams, smart doorbells, and robotic vacuum cleaners to gather intelligence on buildings holding hostages. In Ukraine, hackers can take control of drawbridges to block enemy advances without permanently destroying infrastructure.

Field hacking is a newer capability. “We could have had more if the military budget had allowed,” Lieutenant Colonel Peter Masseling, commander of 101 CEMA, told De Telegraaf. “But the priorities were different. Fortunately, only our quantity suffered; our quality remains at the forefront internationally.”

Funding constraints have now been lifted. The battalion currently employs 20 hackers, with plans to grow to 50 within a 250-person unit. Over the next five years, millions will reportedly be invested in the Cyber and Electronic Warfare branch. The ultimate goal is three battalions, so each brigade has dedicated cyber specialists. “With a tank, you don’t shut down a website,” Masseling told the newspaper.

The 101 CEMA Battalion embeds hackers directly with combat units, unlike the Cyber Command, which operates from bases to disrupt enemy systems. Most members are trained for frontline deployment, while the unit also includes skilled personnel who work behind the lines and do not meet physical military requirements.