The Politics and DV Engineering working group analyses current political developments in the defence sector. It provides independent facts and interpretation from the technological knowledge and experience of engineers.
The Politics and Defence Engineering working group of the Royal Institute of Engineers (KIVI) has the following questions and recommendations on the implementation of the coalition agreement. These have been drawn up on the basis of publicly available documents and knowledge and experience in the field of defence technology. The comments and questions concern exclusively technological or related aspects.
Page 38 - Foreign policy
The all-important connection between foreign policy and Defence is not reflected in the coalition agreement. The Ukraine crisis shows again how necessary this is.
Recommendation:
- Add 6th foreign policy line: Preserve international peace and security. Thereby ensuring adequate availability and deployability of Defence.
Pag.38 - Defence budget
The intensification of spending on Defence can definitely be called positive. However, it is uncertain whether putting the base and working conditions in order will not take so much time and money that the necessary investments in new modern equipment can be realised quickly enough.
Recommendation:
- The Belhaj motion of 30 Oct 2019 may still be relevant. With knowledge of the financial sector, efforts can be made to pay for major investments during use rather than paying for them in advance. Several pension funds and insurers are interested.
Pag.39 - Active role in European defence capability development
When committed to strengthening activities in the European context, it is important to keep the defence sector at home in line with new European regulations and incentive programmes. If necessary through regulation and incentives. For example, investing in national contributions for EDF projects or enabling private investment in those projects. While maintaining one or a few self-creating sub-sectors, our country can make an appropriate contribution in the European context.
Questions:
- How is effective involvement of the Dutch knowledge sector and industry in European defence cooperation realised?
- In what ways is Defence dealing with the requirement of national contributions for European Defence Fund (EDF) projects in which large and small Dutch companies can participate.
Pag.39 - Vital defence sector in the Netherlands
It would be disappointing for this desired vitality if the Dutch defence sector only became a supplier of components to foreign companies, as indicated in the DMP-B for the replacement of submarines, among others. That does not fit with the new cabinet's policy intention to stimulate the manufacturing industry.
Three aspects are of great importance for a vital defence sector: (1) A strong knowledge position in the field of complex and innovative weapon systems at the knowledge institutes, (2) A powerful organisation within the Ministry of Defence to manage projects and steer the industry, (3) The companies must develop and produce complete marketable systems and not just parts.
If companies are expected to make their own efforts and commitment, a high degree of market security is also important.
Questions:
- Which parts of the defence sector will be strengthened so that they can stably develop and produce full-scale systems?
- To what extent is the new government strengthening the Defence Materiel Organisation to act effectively as a 'smart buyer' and 'smart integrator' of weapon systems?
- How will Defence provide market certainty and stability to companies in the vital defence sector so that they themselves can be engaged and proactively innovative?
Pag.39 - Joint international procurement for Defence
Joint procurement requires a degree of transfer of authority based on trust in addition to the division of tasks. Perhaps even limiting parliamentary scrutiny, as other countries have no DMP process or a differently structured one.
Questions:
- Is the Chamber prepared to structure parliamentary oversight for joint procurement differently from the current DMP process ?
- For joint procurement, does the government also intend to link up with OCCAR, a European organisation set up in 1998 specifically for this purpose?
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The Hague, 24 January 2022
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Disclaimer: The facts and opinions given are based on open sources and on the knowledge and experience of working group members.
As part of the professional association KIVI, the working group is independent of political parties, governments and companies.
This is not an official position of KIVI. The association accepts no liability for anything put forward by the working group or its members.
Photo: Lower House
