This symposium, organised by the NVvL (Netherlands Aerospace Engineering Association) and KIVI Aerospace, will focus on the rapidly changing world of military aviation. We have put together a programme of lectures by speakers from different directions within the aerospace industry. The programme includes a hot buffet dinner and we will close the evening with networking and drinks, providing ample opportunity to discuss the evening's inspiring presentations!


Schedule:

  • 17.00-17.45: Dinner
  • 17.45-18.00: Entry and welcome by chairman of the day
  • 18.00-18.45 Speaker 1: Roelof Vos - New concepts in military aviation
  • 18.45-19.30 Speaker 2: Patrick Bolder - The Nature of War in the 21st Century
  • 19.30-20.00: Coffee break
  • 20.00-20.45 Speaker 3 - Jorrit van den Eerenbeemt: Quick Reponse Drone Facility and its role in accelerating innovation.
  • 20.45-21.30 Speaker 4 - TBC: Military Helicopters
  • 21.30-22.00: Networking drinks

Some practical matters:

  • The lectures and presentations will be in Dutch.
  • The detailed programme is added below. Additional information on the speakers and lectures will be added over time.
  • Participation in the buffet dinner is optional. Dietary requirements may be specified when registering for this.
  • The location of the Symposium is the KIVI building in The Hague (Prinsessegracht 23), just a 7-minute walk from The Hague CS railway station and tram 9 stops right in front of the door. Paid parking is available in the Q-Park Malieveld or parking garage Museumkwartier, both within walking distance of the KIVI building.
  • It is possible to follow the event via online participation; the lectures will be streamed live. If you choose this option during registration, you will receive a link to the online platform in the week prior to the event. However, we encourage you to attend on-site to meet other people.

Introduction of the lectures and speakers

Speaker 1: Roelof Vos - New concepts in military aviation

Recent wars in Ukraine, Sudan, and Israel underline the importance of military aviation. Developments in drones are rapid but for military supremacy in the air, manned fighter aircraft are still indispensable. The design of current and future fighter aircraft encompasses many disciplines. In this presentation, I highlight the aerodynamic design of the fifth and sixth generation manned fighters. What can we learn from the design choices made by European, US, Russian and Chinese designers? And, what do we now know about the latest generation of fighter aircraft?

Dr Roelof Vos is associate professor at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology. His research focuses on new aircraft configurations and technologies that enable sustainable aviation. Among other things, he is project leader of the Flying V project conducted at TU Delft in collaboration with industrial partners. He lectures on the aerodynamic design of commercial aircraft and military aircraft. Vos is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). He holds BSc and MSc degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology and a PhD from the University of Kansas, sponsored by the Fulbright programme.

Speaker 2: Patrick Bolder - "The Nature of War in the 21st Century"

The most prominent wars of this century are the Ukraine war and the wars in the Middle East (Israel versus Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas). The 'why' of wars does not change so much as the way wars are fought. Technology and self-interest, authoritarian regimes and international law, trade and justice, morality and operational goals compete with each other and lead to certain outcomes. Some broad lines can be drawn about recent developments in warfare. My presentation will bring its own focus on current and future wars and their characteristics.

Patrick Bolder, after a 40-year career in the Royal Air Force that included very diverse deployments and fields of work, some deployments and studies as well as a multi-year secondment at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS), has developed his own vision on defence planning, wars and how they are fought and the role of technology in them. Today, he is an advisor at Royal NLR and Strategic Advisor at HCSS in the areas 'Unmanned' and 'Space'. Patrick can also regularly be found in podcasts and the media (BNR, NOS, 1Vandaag, Tijd voor Max, Nieuwsuur, Nu.nl, EVA, AD, Telegraaf, Volkskrant, Trouw, Parool, various Belgian media) as an interpreter of the war in Ukraine and Gaza and all kinds of defence-related topics.


Speaker 3: Jorrit van den Eerenbeemt: Quick Reponse Drone Facility and its role in accelerating innovation.

The third speaker will present how the fast pace of modern warfare requires immediate technological deployment. As an R&D engineer at the Netherlands Air and Space Centre, he works on the Quick Response Drone Facility, where innovative ideas are turned into flying demonstrators at lightning speed.


Speaker 4: Developments in Military Helicopters

The last speaker updates us on developments in the helicopter world.