Hackers and soldiers join forces on the battlefield
Dutch soldiers sent to the front lines are getting an extra weapon: fellow hackers.
Published on September 15, 2025
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Dutch soldiers sent to the front are given an extra weapon: fellow hackers. They try to break into poorly secured systems to gather information via webcams or disrupt troop movements, for example, even by manipulating critical infrastructure such as bridges.
The 101 CEMA Battalion has been officially established in Stroe. The unit has 225 members: in addition to digital specialists who can break into poorly secured systems, some soldiers can disrupt radio signals and telephone traffic — or use them to locate and eavesdrop on opponents.
If necessary, hackers accompany troops to the front line, where they support them and open doors to unprecedented possibilities.
In an interview with the AD newspaper, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Masseling said that the hackers had already achieved a great deal during the training phase. This happened during a training exercise: in a hostage scenario, the hackers managed to hijack a robot vacuum cleaner in the victim's house. With control of the device, they provided the troops with accurate information about the situation in the room.
