Royal Netherlands Air Force

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Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), Dutch

Dutch language

Dutch is a West Germanic languages spoken by over 22 million people as a first language, and about 5 million people as a second language."1% of the EU population claims to speak Dutch well enough in order to have a conversation." Outside the European Union the number of second language speakers of Dutch is very small. Most native...
Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu), is the aviation branch of the Netherlands armed forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeeling (aviation department) of the Dutch Army was founded on July 1, 1913, with just four pilots.

Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is the second youngest operational part of the Dutch armed forces, which consists of four parts: Navy, Army, Air Force and Military Police.

Dutch air power started in July 1913 with the founding of the Army Aviation Group (Luchtvaartafdeeling or abbreviated LVA) at Soesterberg airfield (vliegbasis Soesterberg).

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The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), Dutch

Dutch language

History

The beginning in 1913

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is the second youngest operational part of the Dutch armed forces, which consists of four parts: Navy, Army, Air Force and Military Police.

Dutch air power started in July 1913 with the founding of the Army Aviation Group (Luchtvaartafdeeling or abbreviated LVA) at Soesterberg airfield (vliegbasis Soesterberg). When founded, the Army Aviation Group operated just one aircraft, the Brik, which was supplemented with three French Farman
Farman

Farman Aviation Works was an aeronautic enterprise founded and run by the brothers Henri Farman and Maurice Farman.They designed and constructed aircraft from 1908 until 1936; during the French nationalization and rationalization of its aerospace industry, Farman's assets were assigned to the SNCAC ....
aircraft a few months later.

These aircraft were soon outdated and the Dutch government ordered several fighter/reconnaissance Nieuport
Nieuport

Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a France Fixed-wing aircraft company famous for racers before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars....
and Caudron
Caudron

The Caudron Airplane Company was a France aircraft company founded in 1909 by brothers Gaston Caudron and Ren? Caudron . It was one of the earliest aircraft manufacturers in France and produced planes for the military in both World War I and World War II....
aircraft to replace them.

1914-1918 WWI

The Netherlands maintained a neutral position during WW I and the Army Aviation Group did not take part in any action, instead developing the force's capabilities.

Pilot training was opened for ranks below officer, and technical, aerial photography, meteorological and navigation flights were established.

A number of new airfields were established at Arnhem, Gilze-Rijen air base, Venlo and Vlissingen.

Between the wars

After the end of WWI the Dutch government cut the defence budget and the carefully built up Army Aviation Group was almost dissolved. As political tensions in Europe increased during the late 1930s the government tried to rebuild the armed forces again in 1938 but there were many problems, not least the shortage of pilot instructors, navigators and pilots to fly the new multiple engine aircraft. Lack of standardisation and resulting maintenance issues added to the complexity of the rebuilding task.

World War II and late 1940s

As war loomed, in July 1939 the Army Aviation Group was renamed the Army Aviation Brigade (Luchtvaartbrigade).

In August 1939, the Netherlands government mobilised its armed forces, but due to limited budgets the Army Aviation Brigade operated only 125 combat-ready aircraft of several types.

nine Fokker T.V
Fokker T.V

The Fokker T.V was a twin-engine bomber, described as an "aerial cruiser", built by Fokker for the Netherlands Air Force.It was modern for its time but by the Battle of the Netherlands of 1940 it was outclassed by the airplanes of the Luftwaffe....
type bombers

36 Fokker D.XXI
Fokker D.XXI

The Fokker D.XXI Fighter aircraft was designed in 1935 for use by the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force . As such, it was designed as a cheap and small, but rugged aircraft, which had respectable performance for its time....
single-engine fighters

25 new Fokker G.I
Fokker G.I

The Fokker G.I was a Netherlands heavy twin-engined fighter plane comparable in size and role to the German Messerschmitt Bf 110 and the British De Havilland Mosquito....
twin-engine fighters

55 reconnaissance (various types) aircraft

In May 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands

Battle of the Netherlands

The Battle of the Netherlands was part of Case Yellow , the Battle of France of the Low Countries and France during World War II. The battle lasted from 10 May 1940 until 14 May 1940 when the Dutch main force surrendered....
. Within five days the Dutch Army Aviation Brigade was virtually wiped out by the German Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe

is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1933 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
. All of the Brigade's bombers, along with 30 D.XXI and 17 G.I fighters were shot down; two D.XXI and eight G.I were destroyed on the ground. Two G.I were captured by German forces, one of which was later flown to England by a Fokker pilot.

In spite of their numerical inferiority, the Dutch armed forces did enjoy success against the Luftwaffe, with more than 350 Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed . While many were lost to anti-aircraft fire and crashes at improvised landing fields in the Netherlands, the Aviation Brigade did enjoy successes. The cost was high - almost 95% of the Dutch pilots lost. In recognition of their actions Queen Wilhelmina

Wilhelmina of the Netherlands

Wilhelmina was queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty-eight years, longer than any other Dutch monarch....
granted the highest Dutch military decoration, the Militaire Willemsorde (MWO), to the Army Aviation Brigade collectively.

Some aircrews escaped to England and on June 1, 1940, 320 Squadron and 321 Squadron

No. 321 Squadron RAF

No. 321 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during World War II formed from the personnel of the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service....
were established there under RAF

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts....
operational command. Due to a shortage of personnel, 321 Squadron was absorbed by 320 Sqn in January 1941. Although their personnel were predominantly from the Navy Air Service, Army Aviation aircrew also served with 320 Sqn until the end of the war.

In 1941, the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School was re-established, in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
at Jackson Field

Hawkins Field (airport)

Hawkins Field is a city-owned public-use airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Jackson, Mississippi, a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, Mississippi, United States....
(also known as Hawkins Field), Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson is the Capital and the most populous city of the U.S. Mississippi. It is one of two county seats in Hinds County, Mississippi; the town of Raymond, Mississippi is the other....
, operating lend-lease

Lend-Lease

Lend-Lease was the name of the program under which the United States supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Republic of China, Free France and other Allies of World War II with vast amounts of materiel between 1941 and 1945 in return for, in the case of Britain, military bases in Newfoundland and Labrador, Bermuda, and the British W...
aircraft and training all military aircrew for the Netherlands.

The separate Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger
Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force

The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force was the air arm of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in the Dutch East Indies from 1939 until 1950....
(ML-KNIL; Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Military Air Service) continued in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), until its occupation by Japan

Japanese Occupation of Indonesia

Imperial Japan occupied Indonesia during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945. The period was one of the most critical in History of Indonesia....
in 1942. Some personnel escaped to Australia

Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
and Ceylon. 321 Squadron

No. 321 Squadron RAF

No. 321 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during World War II formed from the personnel of the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service....
was re-formed in Ceylon, in March 1942, from Dutch aviators.

In 1942, 18 (NEI) Squadron, a joint Dutch-Australian unit was established, in in Canberra

Canberra

Canberra is the List of Australian capital cities of Australia. With a population of over 340,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth largest Australian city overall....
, equipped with B-25 Mitchell

B-25 Mitchell

The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allies of World War II air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades....
bombers. It saw action in the New Guinea campaign

New Guinea campaign

The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II. The island of New Guinea was split between the Australian League of Nations Mandate Territory of New Guinea , the Territory of Papua , and Dutch New Guinea....
and over the Dutch East Indies. In 1943, 120 (NEI) Squadron

No. 120 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF

No. 120 Squadron was a joint Netherlands and Australian fighter squadron of World War II which today is a Royal Netherlands Air Force surface to air missile squadron based in the Netherlands....
was established. Equipped with Kittyhawk

Curtiss P-40

The Curtiss-Wright P-40 was an United States single-engine, single-seat, Aluminium fighter aircraft and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938....
fighters, it flew many missions under Australian command, including the recapturing of Dutch New Guinea

Western New Guinea campaign

The Western New Guinea campaign was a series of actions in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. United States and Australian forces assaulted Empire of Japan bases and positions in the north-west coastal areas of Netherlands New Guinea and adjoining parts of the Australian Territory of New Guinea....
. In June 1943, a Dutch fighter squadron was established in England. 322 (Dutch) Squadron

No. 322 Squadron RAF

No. 322 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a Fighter Squadron during the Second World War...
, equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire

Supermarine Spitfire

The Supermarine Spitfire is a United Kingdom single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allies of World War II countries through the Second World War and on into the 1950s as a frontline fighter and in secondary roles....
, saw action as part of the RAF. 322 Sqn aircraft featured the British RAF roundels as well as the Dutch orange triangle. 322 Sqn was successfully deployed against incoming V-1 flying bombs. From mid-1944, during the invasion of Normandy

Battle of Normandy

The Invasion of Normandy was the invasion and establishment of Western Allies forces in Normandy, France, during Operation Overlord in World War II....
, it executed ground attack

Close air support

In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are in close proximity to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces....
missions over France and Belgium.

In July 1944, the Directorate of Netherlands Airpower was established in London.

In 1947, its Chief of Air Force Staff as been appointed.

The Netherlands East Indies ceased to exist in December 1949, when the Dutch government surrendered its territory (except for Dutch New Guinea) to the Republic of Indonesia.

The 1950s and 1960s

In 1951, for the first time in history, several non-combat functions in the Army Aviation were opened to women.

In March 1953 the Royal Netherlands Air Force officially became an autonomous part of the Dutch armed forces.

The Air Defense Command, (Commando Lucht Verdediging, abbreviated CLV) consisting of a command unit, five radar stations and six fighter squadrons, had been established. Its radar equipment as well as its air defense fighters all came from obsolete RAF stocks.

Initially the Spitfire Mk.IX was used by 322 sqn until 1954, but were replaced as new squadrons were established.

The was used by 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327 and 328 sqn from 1948-1957.

The was used by 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327 and 328 sqn between 1950-1959.

After the Netherlands joined NATO

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization , also called the Atlantic Alliance, is a military alliance established by the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949....
another new command: Tactical Air Command (Commando Tactische Luchtstrijdkrachten, abbreviated CTL) was established.

CTL consisted of seven new strike squadrons (306, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315 and 316 sqn), all equipped with Republic F-84G Thunderjet aircraft. These aircraft were supplied by the United States under Mutual Defense Aid Program conditions from 1952-1956.

306, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326 and 327 Sqn operated the between 1956-1964, and the between 1957-1968.

700, 701 and 702 Sqn operated the F86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre

The North American Aviation F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. The Sabre is best known for its Korean War role where it was pitted against the Soviet MiG-15 and obtained UN air superiority....
all-weather fighter between 1956-1964.

306, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315 and 316 sqn changed aircraft configuration from 1955-1970 as the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak and RF-84F Thunderflash became available.

New Guinea conflict

The Indonesian government claimed New Guinea following the end of the second world war. The Dutch government considered the area Dutch territory. Negotiations over the country were conducted for years, but tensions grew until Indonesia broke diplomatic relations with the Netherlands at the end of the 1950s.

In response, in 1958, the Netherlands deployed military reinforcements to New Guinea, including an Air Force detachment for the air defense of the island Biak as there was evidence that Indonesia was infiltrating the island in advance of a military operation.

The first Air Force contribution was the installation of two MkIV early warning radars on Biak and neighbouring Woendi island.

The political situation between the Netherlands and Indonesia continued to deteriorate and in 1960 the Dutch government decided to deploy reinforcements. The operations were known by name as ’Plan Fidelio’. For the Dutch Air Force this meant the establishment of an Air Defense Command for New Guinea (Commando Luchtverdediging Nederlands Nieuw-Guinea - CLV NNG) consisting of :

One Hawker Hunter Mk.4 air defence squadron;
A radar navigation system at Biak'", and;
A reserve airstrip at Noemfoer.

The Dutch government decided deployment of a squadron consisting of 12 Hawker Hunter Mk.4 AD fighters and two Alouette II SAR helicopters. They were transported to Southeast Asia by the aircraft carrier ‘Karel Doorman’. One year later the Dutch government deployed another 12 Hawker Hunter Mk6 AD fighters; these aircraft were capable to carry more fuel and had a larger combat radius.

In August 1962 Indonesia was ready to attack New-Guinea. Despite reinforcements the Dutch defences would be insufficient to withstand the coming attack. This, and because of international political pressure the Dutch government was forced to agree to the peaceful surrender of New Guinea. Dutch forces were withdrawn from the territory.

The establishment of 336 transport squadron is closely connected to New Guinea. Soon after activation this unit was deployed to New Guinea to take over air transport from the Dutch Navy. 336 Sqn deployed and took over three Navy Dakota’s and three US supplied aircraft. 336 Sqn operated from Mokmer airstrip and transported more than 5,400 passengers between September 1961 and September 1962.

The Cold War era, 1960s, 1970s and later
During the cold war
Cold War

The Cold War was the continuing state of conflict, tension and competition that existed between a number of world powers, including the United States, the Soviet Union, People's Republic of China, France, United Kingdom and those countries' respective allies from the mid-1940s to the early 1990s....
era Dutch Air Force units played an important part in the West European defence against the opposing Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact

The Warsaw Pact was an organization of communist states in Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The treaty was signed in Warsaw, Poland on May 14, 1955 and official copies were made in Russian language, Polish language, Czech language and German language....
forces. The Dutch Air Force manned five fully operational self supporting Missile Groups in West Germany (1 and 2 MslGrp were equipped with NIKE
Nike-Hercules Missile

Nike-Hercules Missile, designation MIM-14 , was a solid fuel propelled surface-to-air missile, used by US and NATO armed forces for high- and medium-altitude anti-aircraft....
batteries, while 3,4 and 5 MslGrp were equipped with Hawk
MIM-23 Hawk

The Raytheon MIM-23 HAWK is an United States medium range surface-to-air missile. As a backronym, some consider HAWK to stand for Homing All the Way Killer....
). Dutch fighters and other weapon systems also took a full part in NATO alert, standby duties and exercises through the years.

306, 311, 312, 322 and 323 Sqn changed configuration again from 1962-1983 after the dual role F-104 Starfighter
F-104 Starfighter

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was an United States single-engined, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1958 until 1967....
was introduced.

313, 314, 315 and 316 Sqn switched over to the NF-5 Freedom Fighter from 1969-1992. The NF-5 was a CF-5 fighter development. Some of the features on the NF-5 were later used by Northrop on the F-5E/F Tiger II variant.

From 1979 until now all remaining RNLAF squadrons (306, 311, 312, 313, 315, 322 and 323) are using NATO's standard fighter-bomber the multi role F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is a Multirole combat aircraft jet aircraft fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force....
.

Former Yugoslavia

RNLAF F-16s participated in all operations over Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia

File:LocationYugoslavia2.pngYugoslavia is a term that describes three political entities that existed successively on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, during most of the 20th century....
from 1993 Deny Flight, including Deliberate Force in 1995 and ending with Operation Allied Force
Operation Allied Force

The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 11, 1999....
in 1999 from two bases in Italy. Initially from Villafranca AB in the north of Italy, later moving south to Amendola AB. During the operations over FRY RNLAF F-16s flew reconnaissance (306Sqn detachments from Volkel AB were in theatre throughout the operations), enforced the Bosnian no-fly zone, dropped bombs on Udbina AB (1994), succesfully dropped an unguided bomb on a moving Serb tank during the fall of Srebrenica (1995), and took part in Deliberate Force later in the summer of 1995. Between 1994 and 1997 Dutch GCI personnel, along with Canadian GCI controllers, provided many hundreds of hours of fighter control and surveillance as integrated members part of USAF/ANG Air Control Squadrons. During the Kosovo crisis a RNLAF F-16AM (mid-life update) shot down a Yugoslavian MiG-29
Mikoyan MiG-29

The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a Fourth generation jet fighter fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union for an Air superiority fighter role. Developed in the 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other nations....
with an AMRAAM, but the force was more recognized for its high bombing accuracy. Allied Force was also the operational debut for the upgraded F-16AM. Besides the CAP mission, offensive bombing and photo reconnaissance missions were flown. KDC-10 tankers refuelled allied fighter over the Adriatic Sea, and C-130 Hercules transports flew daily sorties from Eindhoven AB to logistically support the operation. In total, RNLAF aircraft flew 1.194 sorties during operation Allied Force, which is about 7.5% of the total 37.000 sorties flown.

Operation Enduring Freedom and NATO in Afghanistan
In October 2002 a tri-national detachment of 18 Dutch, Danish
Royal Danish Air Force

The Royal Danish Air Force is the air force of Denmark, it is an expeditionary Air Force, with capability organised to support both international operations and homeland security....
and Norwegian
Royal Norwegian Air Force

The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November, 1944....
F-16 ground attack aircraft and one Dutch KDC-10 tanker deployed to Manas Air Base
Manas Air Base

Manas Air Base is a United States military installation at Manas International Airport, near Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, primarily operated by the United States Air Force....
in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a country in Central Asia. Landlocked and mountainous, it is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and People's Republic of China to the east....
in support of ground forces in Afghanistan
Afghanistan

Afghanistan , officially the Islamic republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country that is located approximately in the center of Asia....
as part of Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom

Operation Enduring Freedom is the official name used by the U.S. Government for its contribution to the War in Afghanistan , together with three smaller military actions, under the umbrella of its War on Terrorism ....
. The RNLAF returned to Manas AB in September 2004 with five F-16 and one KDC-10 in support of the presidential elections of Afghanistan. This time the aircraft flew under the NATO
NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization , also called the Atlantic Alliance, is a military alliance established by the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949....
ISAF
International Security Assistance Force

International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security and development mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement ....
flag.

In February 2006 four Dutch F-16s were joined by four Royal Norwegian Air Force
Royal Norwegian Air Force

The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November, 1944....
F-16s in a detachment known as the 1st Netherlands-Norwegian European Participating Forces Expeditionary Air Wing (1 NLD/NOR EEAW). This was a follow up of the participation with the Belgian Air Force.

As part of the expanded NATO ISAF mission in southern Afghanistan in August 2006, the Royal Netherlands Air Force had six F-16 ground-attack aircraft, three CH-47D Chinook of 298 Sq stationed at Kandahar Airfield
Kandahar Airfield

Kandahar International Airport is located 10 miles south-east of Kandahar in Afghanistan. The airport was built by the United States in the 1960s, under the United States Agency for International Development program....
. Additionally, a detachement of five AH-64D Apache
AH-64 Apache

The AH-64 Apache is an all-weather day-night military attack helicopter with a four-bladed main and tail rotor and a crew of two pilots who sit in tandem....
helicopters has been stationed of Tarin Kowt
Tarin Kowt

Tarin Kowt is the capital of Oruzgan Province province in southern Afghanistan. It is a town of about 10,000 people, with some 200 small shops in the city's bazaar....
, Uruzgan province.

On August 31 2006 a Royal Netherlands Air Force (Michael "Sofac" Donkervoort) pilot was killed when his plane crashed during a mission to support British ground troops in Helmand province.

Structure of the Royal Netherlands Air Force

Main Operating Bases (MOB's)

Leeuwarden Air Base
Leeuwarden Air Base

Leeuwarden Air Base is a The Netherlands military airport . The airbase is one of the two F-16 bases of the RNLAF. The airbase lies North-West of the capital of Friesland, Leeuwarden....

322nd Quick Reaction Force Sqn. F-16 QRA tasked [Quick Reaction Alert]
323rd TACtical Training Evaluation Standardisation Sqn. F-16
630th Security Sqn.
920th Maintenance Support Sqn.
921st Logistic Sqn.
922nd Miscellaneous Support Sqn.

Volkel Air Base
Volkel Air Base

Volkel Air Base is a military airfield used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force and is located near the town of Uden in the Netherlands. It is home to three F-16 Fighting Falcon squadrons, 311, 312 and 313....

311th F-16 Multirole Sqn.
312th F-16 Multirole Sqn.
313th F-16 Multirole Sqn.
900th F-16 Maintenance Sqn.
901st Transport and Storage Support Sqn.
902nd Miscellaneous Support Sqn.
640th Security Sqn.
601st Reserve Support Sqn.
703rd USAF Munition Support Sqn.

Twenthe Air Base
Enschede Airport Twente

Enschede Airport Twente is located near Enschede, The Netherlands. It serves as a civil airport, though used to be military airport. The military component was shut down in 2007....
has been closed due to budget cuts in dec 2007

Air Defense Group

De Peel Air Base
De Peel Air Base

De Peel air base is a military air base in the Netherlands used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force guided missile devision. It has currently has one runway remaining, which is not in active use....
Guided Weapon Group De Peel

800th Sqn. Group Operation Centre
801st MIM-104 Patriot
MIM-104 Patriot

The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. It is manufactured by the Raytheon Company of the United States....
and FIM-92 Stinger
FIM-92 Stinger

The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981....
Sqn.
802nd MIM-104 Patriot
MIM-104 Patriot

The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. It is manufactured by the Raytheon Company of the United States....
and FIM-92 Stinger
FIM-92 Stinger

The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981....
Sqn.
803rd MIM-104 Patriot
MIM-104 Patriot

The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. It is manufactured by the Raytheon Company of the United States....
and FIM-92 Stinger
FIM-92 Stinger

The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981....
Sqn.
804th MIM-104 Patriot
MIM-104 Patriot

The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. It is manufactured by the Raytheon Company of the United States....
and FIM-92 Stinger
FIM-92 Stinger

The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981....
Training and Evaluation Sqn.
650th Security Support Sqn.
951st Maintenance and Logistic Support Sqn.

At the Air Defense Group de Peel in 2005 the Joint Air Defense Centre has been activated and the activation af the Joint Air Defense School will follow soon. In the future all anti aircraft units of the Dutch Air Force, Army and Navy will be integrated on and relocated to this base. JADC not only will take care of future air defense training, but also will coordinate and support all air defense related operations.

Tactical Air Operations Base

Air Ops Control Station Nw Milligen

710th Sqn. Control And Reporting Centre (CRC)
711th Sqn. Military Air Traffic Control Centre (MilATCC)
970th Support Sqn.

In 2009 710 and 711 Sqn will be united in one Air Operations Sqn. The status of the base will change to NATO status as an airmobile NATO Deployable Air control centre. Sensor fusion post DARS
DARS

The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services is Texas state agency that is part of Texas Health and Human Services Commission. The agency works with Texans with disabilities and developmental delays to improve the quality of their lives and to enable their full participation in society....
radar unit is planned to be operational on the base in the same year.

Defence Helicopter Command

Soesterberg Air Base
Soesterberg Air Base

Soesterberg Air Base was a Royal Netherlands Air Force Base located in Huis ter Heide, 10kilometer Boxing the compass of Utrecht . It was first established as an airfield in 1911, and in 1913 the Dutch Army bought the field and established the Army Aviation Division....
(Due to budget cuts to be closed end 2008)

Royal Netherlands Military Aviation Museum. A part of the base remains in use as a glider field however. Also the former USAFE side will be in use by ground units. (Relocated from Kamp van Zeist to the former 298 and 300 Sqn hangaars, open in 2013)

Gilze-Rijen Air Base
Gilze-Rijen Air Base

Gilze-Rijen Air Base is a military airfield in the Netherlands located between the cities of Breda and Tilburg. It is mainly but not exclusively used as a base for attack helicopters....

298th Sqn. CH-47 Chinook
CH-47 Chinook

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a versatile, twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knot was faster than utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s and even many of today....
300th Sqn. Eurocopter Cougar
Eurocopter Cougar

The Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar is a twin-engined, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter. The AS 532 is a further development and upgrade of the A?rospatiale Puma in its militarized form....
and Aérospatiale Alouette III
Aérospatiale Alouette III

The A?rospatiale Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation and later manufactured by A?rospatiale of France....
301st AH-64 Apache
AH-64 Apache

The AH-64 Apache is an all-weather day-night military attack helicopter with a four-bladed main and tail rotor and a crew of two pilots who sit in tandem....
Sqn.
670th Security Sqn.
930th Communication and Information Support Sqn.
931st Miscellaneous Support Sqn.
604st Reserve Support Sqn.

Leeuwarden Air Base
Leeuwarden Air Base

Leeuwarden Air Base is a The Netherlands military airport . The airbase is one of the two F-16 bases of the RNLAF. The airbase lies North-West of the capital of Friesland, Leeuwarden....

303rd SAR [Search And Rescue] Sqn. Agusta Bell AB 412SP
Bell 412

The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a further development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor....

Martime airfield De Kooij

VSQ-7. Westland Lynx
Westland Lynx

The Westland Lynx is a British helicopter designed by and built Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants, which went into operational usage in 1977 and were later adopted by the armed for...
VSQ-860. Westland Lynx
Westland Lynx

The Westland Lynx is a British helicopter designed by and built Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants, which went into operational usage in 1977 and were later adopted by the armed for...

Air Transport Base

Eindhoven Airport
Eindhoven Airport

Eindhoven Airport is a regional airport near Eindhoven, Netherlands. In terms of the number of served passengers it is the second largest airport in the Netherlands, with 1.6 million passengers in 2008 ....

334th Transport Squadron (KDC-10, DC-10, Gulfstream IV, Fokker 50)
336th Transport Squadron (C-130H-30, C-130H)
940th Maintenance Support Squadron
941st Miscellaneous Support Squadron
NATO Movement Coordination Centre Europe

Common Support Base

Woensdrecht Air Base
Woensdrecht Air Base

Woensdrecht Air Base is a military airport near the town of Woensdrecht, about 10 km south of the city of Bergen op Zoom in the the Netherlands....

Royal Military NCO and general enlisted personnel Air Force School
Air Force Meteorological Group
Air Force Logistics Center
960th Sqn. Transport and Storage Support Squadron
961st Sqn. Miscellaneous Support Squadron
604st Sqn. Reserve Support Squadron

Rank structure

This link shows the actual ranks in the Royal Netherlands Navy, Army, Air Force and Marechaussee (Military Police): Military ranks of the Dutch armed forces

Military ranks of the Dutch armed forces

Landmacht The Koninklijke Landmacht is the land based part of the Dutch military. Its task are the following:* To defend Dutch soil and that of NATO allies....

Strength

Aérospatiale Alouette III

The A?rospatiale Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation and later manufactured by A?rospatiale of France....
| | Light VIP Helicopter | 4 | only used for aerial photography and Royal/VIP flights |----- | Agusta-Bell 412

Bell 412

The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a further development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor....
| | Light SAR and Utility Helicopter | 3 | SAR role, supporting the RNLAF training area over Vlieland

Vlieland

Vlieland is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. The municipality of Vlieland has only one major town: Oost-Vlieland . It is the second-least population density municipality in the Netherlands ....
and the Wadden Sea

Wadden Sea

Eurocopter Cougar

The Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar is a twin-engined, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter. The AS 532 is a further development and upgrade of the A?rospatiale Puma in its militarized form....
| | Medium Utility Helicopter | 17 | Mid-Life Update programme as of 2009 |----- | Boeing CH-47D Chinook

CH-47 Chinook

KC-10 Extender

The KC-10 Extender is an aerial refueling aircraft in service with the United States Air Force derived from the civilian McDonnell Douglas DC-10 airliner....
| | Wide body transport Aircraft | 2 | Aerial refuelling and passenger/cargo transport |----- | McDonnell Douglas DC-10

McDonnell Douglas DC-10

Fokker

Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
|----- | Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer

Pilatus PC-7

The Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer is a low-wing tandem-seat training aircraft, manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The aircraft is capable of all basic training functions including aerobatics, instrument flight rules, tactical and night flying....
| | Light Training Aircraft | 13 | Painted Yellow/Red before, now Black with 2 yellow markings |----- | Westland Lynx

Westland Lynx

The Westland Lynx is a British helicopter designed by and built Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants, which went into operational usage in 1977 and were later adopted by the armed for...
| | ASW, SAR and MEDEVAC duties | 21 | Wearing Koninklijke Marine titles but since July 4th 2008 they belong to the RNLAF. |----- | NH Industries NH-90 | | NATO Frigate Helicopter | 20 | Deliveries will start in 2009. Options for 2 more helicopters |----- | Dornier 228 | | Coastal patrol duties | 2 | Wearing civil registrations but with military (air force and navy) crews |}

F 16 Mlu of Royal Netherlands Air Force's Solo Display Team (reg

The future

Around 85 new Multirole Fighter Aircrafts will replace their current F-16 fleet, decision will be made in 2010.*
NASAMS
NASAMS

NASAMS is a distributed and networked medium to long range Anti-aircraft warfare. NASAMS was the first surface-based application for the AIM-120 AMRAAM , and the first surface-to-air missile system in the western world with active radar homing....
SHORAD Air Defence system, delivery will start in 2009.
11 CH-47D Chinooks will be updated to CH-47F Chinooks in 2009.
29 AH64D Apaches will be upgraded to AH64 Apache Longbow.
20/22 NH90
NHI NH90

The NHI NH90 is a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military, fly-by-wire helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries. The NH90, which can be flown by a single pilot, is designed to operate by night and day and in poor weather....
helicopters will replace the current Navy Lynx helicopters. The NH90 helicopters will be stationed at Gilze-Rijen (8 NH-90 Naval Transport version) and De Kooy (12 NFH-90 anti-submarine warfare and SAR).
Purchase of air portable cruise missiles by 2011.

The Netherlands was the first country to sign up for the Production Sustainment & Follow On Development (PSFD) Phase of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft.

The RNLAF is taking part in a NATO initiative, through the NATO Strategic Airlift Capability

NATO Strategic Airlift Capability

The NATO Strategic Airlift Capability is an initiative of several NATO members and two partner countries, Sweden and Finland, which signed Letters of Intention to pool together to purchase and operate three or four Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic aircraft....
, to buy several C-17

C-17 Globemaster III

The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large, military Cargo aircraft manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. The C-17 is operated by the United States Air Force, the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the Canadian Forces Air Command, while NATO and Qatar have placed orders for the airlifter....
s to solve the lack of strategic airlift.

F-16 Replacement

The Netherlands Air Force wants to replace their current F-16 fleet in the next decade. In the beginning the candidates for the replacement were Dassault Aviations's Rafale, Lockheed Martin's F-16 Block 52/60, the Eurofighter Typhoon

Eurofighter Typhoon

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine Canard -delta wing Multirole combat aircraft aircraft. It is being designed and built by a consortium of three separate partner companies: Alenia Aeronautica, BAE Systems, and EADS working through a holding company Eurofighter GmbH which was formed in 1986....
, the Saab Gripen and Lockheed Martin's F-35. In 2002 The Netherlands signed a contact to develop the F-35 as a '2nd Level' Partner. That contract is worth around 800 million US Dollars. After the first comparison the F-35 seemed to be the best replacer of the existing F-16 fleet. Saab

Saab

Saab AB is an aerospace and defense company based in Sweden....
is now offering their latest aircraft, the Saab Gripen NG (Next Generation) to The Netherlands. The Netherlands will be reviewing all the candidates again. Around 85 new aircraft will be ordered plus 15 options.

External links