The Royal Netherlands Army’s 11 Airmobile Brigade is to receive 41 VECTOR 4×4 vehicles starting in mid-2023. (Dutch MoD)

The Royal Netherlands Army’s 11 Airmobile Brigade is to receive Versatile Expeditionary Commando Tactical Off-Road (VECTOR) 4×4 vehicles, the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the vehicle’s producer, Defenture, announced on 19 December.

The MoD’s Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) ordered 41 VECTORs from Defenture earlier the same day, with an option for more vehicles. Deliveries of the 41 vehicles are scheduled from mid-2023 to mid-2024.

The MoD said on its website on 19 December that the vehicles could be employed in support of special forces, whose ground enabling task is the responsibility of 11 AirmobileBrigade. The ministry said the VECTORs would guarantee the brigade’s operational readiness and deployability until it receives new airborne vehicles.

In July 2020 the Netherlands’ Korps Commandotroepen (KCT) commando force received the last of 75 VECTORs ordered in July 2013 to replace Mercedes-Benz G280 CDI vehicles. Defenture developed VECTOR in close co-operation with the commandos and the DMO.