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of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.]]

MLU of RNAF's Solo Display Team at Radom Air Show 2005]]
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), Dutch ''Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu)'', is the aviation branch of the Netherlands defence forces. It was founded on July 1, 1913 and originally consisted of just 4 pilots.


CURRENT EQUIPMENT

The aircraft deployed include:

Fighters
  • 137 F-16A/B . (Number will be reduced to 108 with 90 for NATO operations).

    • Transport/refuelling


  • 29 AH-64D Apache but the number will be reduced to 24

    • Transport helicopters



The Dutch airforce is also responsible for the deployment of the Ground Based Air Defense systems, including:


AIRBASES AND SQUADRONS


Large Main Operating Bases (MOB's)

  • Airbase Leeuwarden

  • ---322nd Sqn. F-16 Reaction Force Squadron

  • ---323rd Sqn. F-16 Tactes Squadron

  • ---303rd Sqn. Agusta Bell AB 412SP Search and Rescue Helicopter Squadron

  • ---630th Sqn. Operational Ground Squadron

  • ---920th Sqn. Maintenance Support Squadron

  • ---921st Sqn. Logistic Support Squadron

  • ---922nd Sqn. Miscellaneous Support Squadron

  • Airbase Volkel

  • ---311th Sqn. F-16 Squadron

  • ---312th Sqn. F-16 Squadron

  • ---313th Sqn. F-16 Squadron

  • ---306th Sqn. F-16 Training Squadron

  • ---900th Sqn. F-16 Maintenance Support Squadron

  • ---901st Sqn. Transport and Storage Support Squadron

  • ---902nd Sqn. Miscellaneous Support Squadron

  • ---640th Sqn. Airbase Security Support Squadron

  • ---601st Sqn. Reserves Support Squadron

  • Airbase Twenthe, Enschede (will be closed in 2007)

  • ---620th Sqn. Security Squadron

  • ---910th Sqn. F-16 Maintenance Support Squadron

  • ---911th Sqn. Transport and Storage Support Squadron

  • ---912th Sqn. Miscellaneous Support Squadron



Tactical Helicopter Groups (THG) and Airbases

  • THG Soesterberg (will be closed in 2007, with the units to move to Gilze-Rijen)

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

  • ---300th Sqn. Eurocopter Cougar and Aérospatiale Alouette III Squadron

  • ---610th Sqn. Security Squadron

  • ---932nd Sqn. Maintenance and Logistic Support Squadron

  • ---933rd Sqn. Miscellaneous Support Squadron

  • ---934th Sqn. Facility Management Support Squadron

  • THG Gilze-Rijen

  • ---301st Sqn. AH-64 Apache Squadron

  • ---670th Sqn. Security Squadron

  • ---930th Sqn. Communication and Information Support Squadron

  • ---931st Sqn. Miscellaneous Support Squadron



Other airbases

  • Airbase Eindhoven

  • ---334th Sqn. Transport Squadron

  • ---940th Sqn. Maintenance Support Squadron

  • ---941st Sqn. Miscellaneous Support Squadron

  • Airbase Woensdrecht

  • ---Royal Military Airforce School

  • ---Logistics Center

  • ---Airforce Meteorological Group

  • ---960th Sqn. Transport and Storage Support Squadron

  • ---961st Sqn. Miscellaneous Support Squadron



Guided Weapons base



Control station



RANK STRUCTURE

The officer ranks of the Royal Netherlands Air Force is given below:


FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

The F-16 is likely to be replaced in the future by the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter . It is favoured over the Eurofighter , Rafale , F/A-18E/F , F-16E/F and Saab Gripen . It must be noted though that no formal decision has been taken on the replacement. The Dutch government so far has only participated in the SDD-phase (System Development and Demonstration phase) of the JSF-project. A future government may decide in favour of the Eurofighter, the Rafale or any other candidate.

The (K)DC-10 aircraft were updated in 2005 by Fokker Services (part of Stork Aerospace, located near Woensdrecht airbase). Another DC-10 yet to be put in operational service, will bring the total amount of these aircraft in service with the RNLAF to three. Two F-60 s will be sold. The RNLAF is interested in buying the C-17 , which if bought will be stationed on Eindhoven airbase where all the airforce's fixed wing transport planes are stationed.


EXTERNAL LINKS


General



References