Air Force Days – 2019
F-16AM fighter, serial number J-642, with sometimes painted ballast marking the 40th anniversary of service of this type of aircraft in the RNLAF.
In 2016, the Royal Netherlands Air Force announced that additional Air Force Days would be held in 2017. However, the event was cancelled. The main reason for this was the too active participation of Dutch military aviation in exercises in the country and in foreign operations, which, by the way, has been going on for several years. Only on Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15, 2019, the Netherlands Air Force introduced itself to the public at Volkel base under the slogan: "We are the Air Force."
Such a slogan begs the question: what is the Dutch Air Force and what does it do? In short: The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is a modern branch of the armed forces, equipped with the latest equipment, which contributes to freedom, security and prosperity in the world.
The RNLAF is made up of well-trained personnel, aircraft, helicopters and other weapons systems, all working as one cohesive and understanding team. But there is more to add...
On behalf of the commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Lieutenant General Dennis Luit, several dozen RNLAF personnel explained what the organization and service is like in a video that is regularly shown on four large screens. In short, they said that the RNLAF protects the safety of the citizens of the Netherlands by protecting the state's airspace and critical infrastructure with the help of F-16 multirole fighters. It is now the main weapon system of the RNLAF, although the process of gradually replacing it with the F-35A has just begun. Coastal protection is carried out by Dornier Do 228 patrol aircraft. For operational and strategic transport tasks, the RNLAF uses C-130H and C-130H-30 aircraft, as well as KDC-10 aircraft.
Helicopters of the Royal Netherlands Air Force are used to transport people, cargo and equipment, and to fight fires. AH-64D attack helicopters escort transport helicopters and provide fire support to ground forces, as well as assist state police at the request of the armed forces. To perform all these tasks, there are also many support and security units: technical service, management, headquarters and planning, logistics, air traffic control services, navigation and meteorological support, air base security, military police and military fire brigades, etc. .
The RNLAF plays an important role in international conflict resolution, security and various operations for the transport of goods and people and medical evacuation. This is done in cooperation with other branches of the armed forces and with the troops of other countries, with NATO or with UN missions. The Royal Netherlands Air Force also helps victims of natural disasters and war. By participating in these operations, the RNLAF is making an important contribution to maintaining global stability. A stable world is peace, which is also very important in terms of international trade and the security of the Netherlands itself. Today, threats affect not only land, seas and air, but can also come from outer space. In this sense, there is a growing interest in space as another direction of the country's defense. Together with civilian partners, the Dutch Ministry of Defense is working on its own satellites. The launch of the first Brik II nanosatellite is expected to take place this year.
In order to show Dutch and international audiences "what the RNLAF is", several ground and air demonstrations were held over the Volkel Air Base. Other types of Dutch troops also participated, such as the Ground Air Defense Command, demonstrating their missile systems: Patriot medium-range, small NASAMS and short-range Stinger, as well as the Air Control Center radar station. The Royal Military Police also put on a show. Spectators eagerly followed all these events, willingly visited the huge tents in which the RNLAF showed how it defends its bases, how it maintains equipment, and how it plans, prepares and conducts humanitarian and military operations.
