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Structure of the Royal Netherlands Air Force

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This article represents the structure of the Royal Netherlands Air Force as of May 2020:

Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force

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Air Combat Command (ACC)

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F-16AM Falcon in flight over Afghanistan

Volkel Air Base was one of two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16AM Falcon bases, which are being replaced by F-35A Lightning II.[4] As part of NATO's nuclear sharing the US Air Force's 703rd Munitions Support Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing stores B61 tactical nuclear weapons at Volkel for use with Dutch F-16AM Falcon.

F-35A Lightning II departing Volkel Air Base

Leeuwarden Air Base is one of two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16AM Falcon bases, which are being replaced by F-35A Lightning II, the first of which arrived at Leeuwarden on 31 October 2019[6]

Air Operations Control Station Nieuw-Milligen (AOCS NM) is part of the NATO Integrated Air Defense System and monitors and secures the Dutch part of NATO airspace. The centre reports to Air Operations Centre Uedem (NATO CAOC Uedem) in Uedem, Germany.[7]

Air Mobility Command (AMC)

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Eindhoven Air Base is home to all transport and aerial refueling aircraft of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Furthermore NATO's Multi Role Tanker Transport Capability (MRTT-C) is based at Eindhoven.[9]

Defense Helicopter Command (DHC)

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298 Squadron CH-47D Chinook in Mali
AH-64D Apache attack helicopter
NH90 NFH helicopter

The Defense Helicopter Command at Gilze-Rijen Air Base consists of all helicopter units of the Armed forces of the Netherlands. The air force's SERE School is also located at Gilze-Rijen Air Base.[11]

Air Force Reserve Group

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The Air Force Reserve Group was established in November 2004 and fell under the Defense Helicopter Command. Since 2019 the group is an independent formation.[14]

  • Air Force Reserve Group, in Breda
    • 519 Squadron, at Air Operations Control Station Nieuw-Milligen[15]
      • 1st Flight at Leeuwarden Air Base, 2nd and 3rd Flight at AOCS Nieuw-Milligen, 4th and 5th Flight at Volkel Air Base[15]
    • 520 Squadron, at Gilze-Rijen Air Base[15]
      • 6th Flight at Eindhoven Air Base, 7th and 8th Flight at Gilze-Rijen Air Base, 9th Flight at Woensdrecht Air Base[15]

Royal Netherlands Air Force Military School-Woensdrecht Air Base

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PC-7 Turbo Trainer in flight

The Royal Netherlands Air Force Military School at Woensdrecht Air Base is the training institute for all Royal Netherlands Air Force personnel, except officer candidates, which are trained at the Royal Military Academy. The base also houses a Fire Fighting Exercise and Training Centre, and the Joint Meteorological Group, which provides meteorological services to all branches of the Armed forces of the Netherlands.[16]

  • Royal Netherlands Air Force Military School-Woensdrecht Air Base[17][16]
    • 130 Squadron (Military training)[18]
    • 131 Squadron (Basic military aviator training),[18] with 13x PC-7 Turbo Trainer planes[16]
    • 133 Squadron (Basic technical training)[18]
    • 961 Squadron (Air base operations)[18]
    • Joint Meteorological Group[16]
    • Fire Fighting Exercise and Training Centre

Woensdrecht Logistic Centre

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The Woensdrecht Logistic Centre provides second level maintenance for all aircraft of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.[19]

  • Woensdrecht Logistic Centre, at Woensdrecht Air Base
    • 980 Squadron (Aircraft maintenance)[18]
    • 981 Squadron (Components maintenance)[18]
    • 982 Squadron (Technology and mission support)[18]
    • 983 Squadron (Logistics, manages the air force's central inventory)[18]

People and Aviation Centre

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The People and Aviation Centre in Soesterberg is the air force's research, selection, aviation medicine, psychology and physiology centre.

Squadrons assigned to other commands

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The following Royal Netherlands Air Force squadrons are assigned to other commands:

  • Royal Military Academy, in Breda
    • Cadets Squadron
    • 121 Squadron (Military Scientific Training)
    • 122 Squadron (Basic Officer Training)

Air Force structure graphic

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Structure of the Royal Netherlands Air Force 2020 (click to enlarge)

Geographic distribution of units

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class=notpageimage|
Royal Netherlands Air Force locations in 2020:
F-16AM Falcon F-35A Lightning II Helicopters Other flying units
SMART-L GB Radar station Air Operations Control Station Other bases

References

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  1. ^ "Organisatiestructuur luchtmacht". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Hoofdkwartier luchtmacht". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Squadrons Vliegbasis Volkel". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Vliegbasis Volkel". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Squadrons Vliegbasis Leeuwarden". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Vliegbasis Leeuwarden". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Air Operations Control Station Nieuw Milligen". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Squadrons AOCS NM". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d "Vliegbasis Eindhoven". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Squadrons Vliegbasis Eindhoven". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Vliegbasis Gilze-Rijen". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Squadrons Defensie Helikopter Commando". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Vliegbasis Deelen". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Groep Luchtmacht Reserve". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  15. ^ a b c d "Squadrons Groep Luchtmacht Reserve". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  16. ^ a b c d "Koninklijke Militaire School Luchtmacht". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Vliegbasis Woensdrecht". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h "Squadrons Vliegbasis Woensdrecht". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Logistiek Centrum Woensdrecht". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Centrum voor Mens en Luchtvaart". Koninklijke Luchtmacht. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
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