Maritime Aerial Delivery Systems

The Dutch armed forces must make a substantial contribution to ensure the security of Dutch nationals and their interests. The task of the Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Force (NLMARSOF) is to prepare and to be ready for operations that guarantee this. In the case of non-foreseeable special operations (NFSO), the area of deployment is not known in advance.

In general though it is expected that future operations occur in coastal areas, although ships on the high seas may also be targeted. NLMARSOF has various maritime assets for infill- and exfiltration. For all these assets, the range is limited and they must be transported from the Netherlands to the area of operation (AO).

A para-rendezvous (RV) with a maritime vessel in an AO is the preferred insertion for maritime deployment. Such an operation, during which the operators with their personal and group equipment are dropped by parachute close to the maritime vessel, can be carried out in international waters. In order to oblige to her assigned tasking, the NLMARSOF needs small, so-called 'Maritime Aerial Delivery Systems' (MADS) with which their assets can be inserted by parachute.