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The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu), is the aviation branch of the Netherlands armed forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeling (en: aviation department) of the Dutch Army was founded on July 1, 1913, and it originally consisted of just 4 pilots.

Contents 1 History 1.1 The beginning in 1913 1.2 1914-1918 WWI 1.3 Between the wars 1.4 World War II and late 1940s 1.5 The 1950s and 1960s 1.6 New Guinea conflict 1.7 The Cold War era, 1960's, 1970's and later 1.8 Kosovo 1.9 Operation Enduring Freedom and NATO in Afghanistan 2 Structure of the Royal Netherlands Air Force 2.1 Main Operating Bases (MOB's) 2.2 Air Defense Group 2.3 Tactical Air Operations Base 2.4 Tactical Helicopter Group 2.5 Air Transport Base 2.6 Common Support Base 3 Rank Structure 4 Strength 5 The future 6 Links 6.1 General 7 References

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is the second youngest operational part of the Dutch armed forces, which consists of four autonomous operational 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 aircraft a few months later.

These aircraft were soon outdated and the Dutch government ordered several fighter/reconnaissance Nieuport and Caudron aircraft to replace them.

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.

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 structural 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.

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

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 type bombers

• 36 obsolescent Fokker D.XXI single-engine fighters

• 25 new Fokker G.I twin-engine fighters

• 55 reconnaissance (various types) aircraft

In May 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. Within five days the Dutch Army Aviation Brigade was virtually wiped out by the German Luftwaffe. 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 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 were established there under RAF 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 at Jackson Field (also known as Hawkins Field), Jackson, Mississippi, operating lend-lease aircraft and training all military aircrew for the Netherlands.

The separate Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger (ML-KNIL; Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Military Air Service) continued in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), until its occupation by Japan in 1942. Some personnel escaped to Australia and Ceylon. 321 Squadron 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, equipped with B-25 Mitchell bombers. It saw action in the New Guinea campaign and over the Dutch East Indies. In 1943, 120 (NEI) Squadron was established. Equipped with Kittyhawk fighters, it flew many missions under Australian command, including the recapturing of Dutch New Guinea.

In June 1943, a Dutch fighter squadron was established in England. 322 (Dutch) Squadron, equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire, 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, it executed ground attack 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.

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 Mk9 was used by 322 sqn until 1954, but were replaced as new squadrons were established.

• The Gloster Meteor F MkIV was used by 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327 and 328 sqn from 1948-1957.

• The Gloster Meteor F MkVIII was used by 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327 and 328 sqn between 1950-1959.

After the Netherlands joined NATO 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 Hawker Hunter F Mk4 between 1956-1964, and the Hawker Hunter F Mk6|MK6 between 1957-1968.

• 700, 701 and 702 Sqn operated the F86 Sabre 'allweather' 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.

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.

During the cold war era Dutch Air Force units played an important part in the west European defence against the opposing Warsaw Pact forces. The Dutch Air Force manned five fully operational self supporting Missile Groups in West Germany (1 and 2 MslGrp were equipped with NIKE batteries, while 3,4 and 5 MslGrp were equipped with Hawk). 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 configuaration again from 1962-1983 after the dual role F-104 Starfighter was been introduced.

• 313, 314, 315 and 316 Sqn switched over to the NF5 Freedom Fighter from 1969-1992. NF5 was a T-38 fighter development.

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

RNLAF F-16s participated in Operation Allied Force over Yugoslavia in 1999. A RNLAF F-16AM which shot down a Yugoslavian MiG-29 with an AMRAAM.

In October 2002 a tri-national detachment of 18 Dutch, Danish and Norwegian F-16 ground attack aircraft and one Dutch KDC-10 tanker deployed to Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan in support of ground forces in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. 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 ISAF flag.

In February 2006 four Dutch F-16s were joined by four Royal Norwegian Air Force 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 Airforce.[1]

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. Additionally, a detachement of five AH-64D Apache helicopters has been stationed of Tarin Kowt, 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.[2]

• Leeuwarden airbase
  • 322nd Reaction Force Sqn. F-16 QRA tasked
  • 323rd TACtical Training Evaluation Standardisation Sqn. F-16
  • 303rd SAR Sqn. Agusta Bell AB 412SP
  • 630th Security Sqn.
  • 920th Maintenance Support Sqn.
  • 921st Logistic Sqn.
  • 922nd Miscellaneous Support Sqn.

• Volkel Airbase
  • 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.

• [3] Twenthe airbase will be closed due to budget cuts in dec 2007
  • 620th Security Sqn.
  • 910th F-16 Maintenance Support Sqn.
  • 911th Transport and Storage Support Sqn.
  • 912th Miscellaneous Support Sqn.

• [4] Guided Weapon Group De Peel
  • 800th Sqn. Group Operation Centre
  • 801st MIM-104 Patriot and FIM-92 Stinger Sqn.
  • 802nd MIM-104 Patriot and FIM-92 Stinger Sqn.
  • 803rd MIM-104 Patriot and FIM-92 Stinger Sqn.
  • 804th MIM-104 Patriot and FIM-92 Stinger 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 in very short terms too. This implies that in the very near 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 takes care of future air defense training, but also coördinates and supports all air defense related operations in the future.

• [5] 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 national status of the base will change into a NATO status as an airmobile NATO Deployable Air control centre, Recognised airpicture production centre, Sensor fusion post DARS radar unit is planned to be operational on the base in the same year.

• [6] Soesterberg airbase (Due to budget cuts to be closed in 2008, its units will be moved to Gilze-Rijen)
  • 298th Sqn. CH-47 Chinook
  • 300th Sqn. Eurocopter Cougar and Aérospatiale Alouette III
  • 610th Security Sqn.
  • 932nd Maintenance and Logistic Support Sqn.
  • 933rd Miscellaneous Support Sqn.
  • 934th Facility Support Sqn.
  • 604st Reserve Support Sqn.

• [7] Gilze-Rijen airbase
  • 301st AH-64 Apache Sqn.
  • 670th Security Sqn.
  • 930th Communication and Information Support Sqn.
  • 931st Miscellaneous Support Sqn.
  • 604st Reserve Support Sqn.

After integration of all Soesterberg units, all Navy helicopters will also be integrated into the Dutch Defense Helicopter Command (DHC). All Dutch Air Force and Navy helicopter operations and maintenance will be coördinated by the DHC. Main bases of the DHC will be Gilze-Rijen and De Kooy. In contradiction to other countries with Army helicopter forces the Dutch government put all military helicopters in the Air Force organisation.

• [8] Eindhoven Airport
  • 334th Transport Squadron (KDC-10, DC-10, Gulfstream IV)
  • 336th Transport Squadron (C-130H-30, C-130)
  • 940th Maintenance Support Squadron
  • 941st Miscellaneous Support Squadron
  • NATO Movement Coordination Centre Europe

• [9] Woensdrecht airbase
  • Royal Militairy 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

Check this Ranks of the Netherlands Armed Forces(PDF) file to learn the actual ranks in the Royal Netherlands Navy, Army, Air Force and Marechaussee (Military Police).

Aircraft	Origin	Type	In service[1]	Notes
Aérospatiale Alouette III	France	Light VIP Helicopter	4	outdated and only used for Royal and VIP flights
Agusta-Bell 412	Italy	Light S&R and Utility Helicopter	3
AH-64D Apache	United States	Attack Helicopter	29	5 kept in reserve
AS 532U2 Cougar Mk2	France	Medium Utility Helicopter	17
CH-47D Chinook	United States	Heavy Lift Helicopter	11	6 CH-47Fs on order (4 new and 2 to replace the 2 that crashed in Afghanistan)
C-130H-30 Hercules	United States	Medium Transport Aircraft	2	2 former EC-130Q being converted to C-130H status
Fokker 50	Netherlands	Light Transport Aircraft	2	VIP transport
Fokker 60	Netherlands	Maritime Patrol Aircraft	2	phased out and replaced by 2 Dash 8 (leased from a private company from Canada)
KC-10 (KDC-10)	United States	Medium Transport Aircraft	2	Aerial refuelling and transport
DC-10 transport	United States	Medium Transport Aircraft	1
Gulfstream IV	United States	Light Utility Aircraft	1	VIP transport
F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon	United States	Multirole Fighter Aircraft	90	all mid-life-updated, another 18 in storage/for sale (total 108)
PC-7 Turbo Trainer	Switzerland	Light Training Aircraft	13

• Around 85 F35A Lightning II's, decision will be made in 2010.
• SHORAD Air Defence system, delivery will start in 2007.
• 11 CH47D Chinooks will be updated to CH47F Chinooks in 2007-2008.
• 29 AH64D Apaches will be upgraded to AH64 Apache Longbow.
• 20 NH90 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.[10]

The RNLAF is taking part in a NATO initiative, through the NATO Strategic Airlift Capability, to buy several C-17s to solve the lack in strategic airlift.[11]

• Official website of the Royal Netherlands Airforce
• World wide Military Information
• Current Order of Battle at Scramble
• Royal Netherlands Air Force
• Military Flags of the Royal Netherlands Air Force
• Squadron roundels of the Royal Netherlands Airforce

• Parliament Chamber Notes on buying C-130 and selling F-60 aircraft (Dutch)
• The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible sale to the Netherlands of CH-47F Chinook cargo helicopters (English)

v • d • e Nederlandse Strijdkrachten (Military of the Netherlands)
under the command of the Ministry of Defence
Landmacht (Army) Marine (Navy) Luchtmacht (Air force) Marechaussee (Military Police)