103rd ISTAR Battalion
103 ISTAR-battalion is a cavalry reconnaissance regiment in the Royal Netherlands Army. The battalion is the main part of the "Regiment Huzaren van Boreel", or "Boreel's Own Hussars". Other parts of the regiment are the independent recce squadrons which are part of the Netherlands' Army's Mechanised Brigades.
103's tasking is centred on collecting and analysing operational information, then use it to compile intelligence and advice for operational commanders. Other taskings are diverse and include Forward Air Control; FOO; Route reconnaissance; security operations; EW and SIGINT.
103 ISTAR-battalion has a complement of little over 800 heads and is stationed at Legerplaats bij Oldebroek and the Luitenant Kolonel Tonnet Kazerne in 't Harde in the Veluwe area of the Netherlands.
The minister of defence decided to found the ISTAR battalion at June 25th 2001. After preparations the Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Netherlands Army formally raised the unit at June 25th 2003. He then also decided to formally place the unit under the administration of Boreel's Own Hussars. The battalion continues the traditions of the old 103 Recce Battalion, which was also part of the same regiment. After WWII Dutch Cavalry units became known as battalions, though they still retained a Regimental identity. Boreel's Own Hussars even became a multi-battalion regiment (almost in an infantry style) housing all the Army's armoured reconnaissance and light cavalry units. It continues to do so today.
Sub units
103 ISTAR battalion contains the following sub units:
- Staff 103 ISTAR-battalion
- 101 Military Intelligence and Staff squadron
- 101 Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) Battery (a field artillery sub unit)
- 101 Artillery Support Battery (a field artillery sub unit)
- 102 EW Company (a Signals sub unit)
- 103 Armoured reconnaissance squadron (formally: Ground-borne reconnaissance squadron)
- 104 Armoured reconnaissance squadron
The battalion is part of the Operational Support Command - Land (Operationeel Ondersteunings Commando Land (OOCL), a formation also containing several specialist engineer units, medical units and such which support the manoeuvre brigades of the army).