FORCE REPORT Royal Netherlands Air Force or the past 20 years, the nologies. Recent acquisitions have currently at Edwards AFB, California, in 2023, five will remain in the FRoyal Netherlands Air Force included the first F-35A Lightning with 323 Squadron, are for the USA, four for training and one for (RNLAF) has participated in IIs, modern munitions, updates to Operational Test and Evaluation flight testing. One of them will be combat operations in many existing weapon systems, and the (OT&E) phase. Both will go to Luke F-002, which remains a specially countries: Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, RNLAF is also on the brink of order- after completion of the OT&E. configured aircraft, used for tests. Libya, Mali and now Iraq. Unlike ing Airbus A330 tanker transports. Three further batches of eight The defence ministry intends to some of its European partners, aircraft will be ordered between base the first six F-35s, assembled it has persevered at a time Lightning II 2016 and 2018, before a final by Lockheed Martin in Forth when it suffered from round The Lockheed Martin F-35 three are purchased in 2019. Worth, Texas, at Luke AFB. The after round of budget cuts. Lightning II is as controversial in The The latter will be the last of the remaining jets, stationed at Despite this difficult situation, the Netherlands as it is abroad. Despite 37 currently budgeted for. After Leeuwarden AB and Volkel AB, RNLAF continued, admirably, with the often heated discussions completion of the transition from will be assembled by the joint its international responsibilities. over its costs and the precarious Lockheed Martin F-16 to F-35 Alenia Aermacchi-Lockheed Martin At the same time, it is continuing financial situation, the RNLAF final assembly and check-out to keep pace with the changing will persevere with these fighters, (FACO) facility at Cameri Air military arenas and new tech- though with a minimal 37 aircraft. Base, Italy. Engine maintenance The Dutch defence ministry ordered for the Italian F-35s will be Below: Like so many countries, eight F-35As on March 26, 2015, conducted in The Netherlands. the Netherlands is buying the F-35 which will be delivered in 2019. Leeuwarden AB will start JSF. Two test aircraft are currently Six will go to the F-35 Pilot Training preparing the infrastructure in based at Edwards AFB, California, for operational test and evaluation. Two Centre at Luke AFB, 2016, with the first pilots and aircraft are due to visit the Netherlands Arizona. The maintenance personnel in June next year. Stephan de Bruijn two test aircraft to begin F-35 train- 56 DECEMBER 2015 #333 www.airforcesmonthly.com FORCE REPORT Royal Netherlands Air Force RUNNING ONWith budgets being continuously cut,EMPTY how does the Royal Netherlands Air Force execute its responsibilities? Gert Kromhout looks at the modernisation programmes currently under way in the Netherlands. “Unlike some of its European partners, it has persevered at a time when it su ered from round after round of budget cuts.” www.airforcesdaily.com #333 DECEMBER 2015 57 FORCE REPORT Royal Netherlands Air Force ing in late 2018. After the first late 2021. The RNlAF expects Viper drawdown the summer of 2016. Seven others two F-35s arrive in 2019, the full operational capability in The RNlAF’s 213 F-16s was the big- remain in operational reserve. next objective will be initial 2024. One squadron will fly gest fleet outside the USA but this Since October 2014, Dutch F16s operational capability (IOC) in the out of Leeuwarden and the sizeable amount has been slashed, have been stationed at Muwaffaq fourth quarter of 2021, which will other two from Volkel. to just 61. Due to the aircrafts’ Salti AB in Jordan for operations mean four F-35s with personnel It is widely believed that 37 is age, maintenance is increasingly against Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, and support can be deployed for only a minimum number and difficult, while the service entry of first with six (plus 2 spares), but a period of three to four months. that more will be purchased the F-35A is still four to five years now with four (plus 2 spares). As Volkel AB will start preparing its in future. The current number away. According to the RNlAF, the of September, considerations are infrastructure in 2019 and the does not cover any attrition Royal Jordanian Air Force is to being made to widen the area of remaining F-35s will arrive by losses for the three units. receive the last 15 surplus F-16s in operations to Syria. It is expected 6 North Sea Leeuwarden De Kooij 5 Amsterdam Valkenburg Soesterherg NETHERLANDS Vokel 1: The RNLAF has a detachment of F-16A/Bs at Tucson ANGB, Arizona where Dutch pilots go to train with the resident 148th FS. Stephan de Bruijn GERMANY 2: One of the four RNLAF C-130s. Each has about ten years life in the airframes. Woensdrecht Gilze Rijen 3: One of the two KDC-10s based at Eindhoven AB. The two widebody tankers are to be succeeded by four Airbus A330 MRTTs in 2019/2020. Stephan de Bruijn 4: The Dutch F-16 fl eet has been involved in overseas combat operations since Eindhoven the mid-1990s. Eight of them are currently deployed to Jordan for Operation Inherent Resolve. All photos, author unless stated 5: A CH-47D is seen preparing for a deployment to Mali, supporting the MINUSMA mission there. The Dutch CH-47s have been based in Mali since October 2014. BELGIUM The sand kicked up by the downwash creates a spectacular effect, known as the Kopp-Etchells Effect. Koen Hartkamp 6: The ScanEagle has the ability to remain airborne for 22 hours and has been used to provide live video feeds to special forces on operations. Wim Dis 58 DECEMBER 2015 #333 www.airforcesmonthly.com ‘The RNlAF’s 213 F-16s was the biggest eet outside the USA but this sizeable FORCE REPORT Royal Netherlands Air Force amount has been slashed, to just 61.’ 1 2 3 the Dutch detachment will be of the Arizona Air National USA announced the possible Four more F-models are with 302 relieved by Belgium next October. Guard at Tucson, Arizona. sale of four MQ-9 Reapers to the Squadron, permanently based at The first six F-16s of the current The future of Leeuwarden-based Netherlands. Crews were already Fort Hood, Texas. Three Chinooks are fleet will be retired in 2020 and 306 Squadron looks precarious. in training and full operational detached to the Multidimensional all should be decommissioned In September 2015, the Dutch capability was projected for 2017. Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali by 2023. No 312 and 313 defence ministry announced the (MINUSMA) for operations to secure Squadron at Volkel and 322 purchase of an unmanned aerial Helicopters stability and safety in that country. Squadron at Leeuwarden are vehicle had been postponed until There are currently 17 CH-47 The 11 D-models will be replaced currently equipped with F-16s. A after 2020. The unit was expected Chinooks in the fleet. Two CH-47Fs by a similar number of new handful more are detached for to operate them. It came as a and 11 CH-47Ds and are based at CH-47Fs. Furthermore, the six training to 148th Fighter Squadron surprise because in February, the Gilze-Rijen AB with 298 Squadron. Fs already in service are to be 4 RNLAF Order of Battle Sqn Type Woensdrecht Air Base 131 Sqn PC-7 Volkel Air Base 312 Sqn F-16AM/B 313 Sqn F-16AM/B Leeuwarden Air Base 322 Sqn F-16AM/B Edwards Air Force Base, California 323 Sqn F-35A (53rd FW) Eindhoven Air Base 334 Sqn KDC-10, Gulfstream IV, Do- 228-212 (Coast Guard) 336 Sqn C-130H-30, C-130H Tucson Int. Airport, Arizona 148th FS F-16AM/BM (162nd FWG) Defence Helicopter Command Gilze Rijen Air Base 298 Sqn CH-47D/F 300 Sqn AS532U2, Al3 301 Sqn AH-64DN Fort Hood, Texas 302 Sqn AH-64DN, CH-47F De Kooy Maritime Air Station 7 Sqn NH90-NFH (on loan) 360 Sqn NH90-NFH www.airforcesdaily.com #333 DECEMBER 2015 59 FORCE REPORT Royal Netherlands Air Force ian medevac at the Wadden Islands, north of The Netherlands and used as a regular transport. As soon as a civilian contractor is selected, the detachment will be terminated. Three Alouette III helicopters are still flown by 300 Squadron for VIP and light transport duties but will be retired on January 1 next year. Deliveries of the last seven of 20 NH90 NFH helicopters to 7 Squadron and 860 Squadron at De Kooy Maritime Air Station were resumed late last year after the defence ministry ordered deliveries to stop in June 2014. This was due to excessive corrosion discovered in a NH90 deployed for a long period at sea. To date, 16 have now The AS532U2 Cougars are being been delivered, and the last four taken out of storage to take on some are expected before early 2016. of the NH90 work. These two are The NH90 fleet should reach full on alert at Leeuwarden Air Base to cover any medical evacuation needs. operational capability in 2019. Stephan de Bruijn Both are navy squadrons but are administered by the Defence upgraded to the same standard. 2019. Eight Apaches are with 302 transport helicopters forced the Helicopter Command of the RNlAF. Also deployed to Mali for MINUS- Squadron at Fort Hood, Texas. defence ministry to reconsider that MA ops are four AH-64D Apaches The RNlAF disbanded 303 Search decision.