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Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35 Lightning II
 
Latest update: May 2024
 
Milestones
 
Date Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35A program highlights
22-03-24 F-035 flown from Leeuwarden to Volkel after completing acceptance tests.
22-02-24 First flight F-040 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Second F-35A for 312 squadron.
18-01-24 Delivery of aircraft F-038 to Leeuwarden Air Base. Fifteenth and last F-35A for 313 squadron.
11-01-24 Delivery of aircraft F-039 to Leeuwarden Air Base. First F-35A for 312 squadron.
05-12-23 First flight F-039 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. First F-35A for 312 squadron.
23-11-23 Delivery of aircraft F-036 to Volkel Air Base. Thirteenth F-35A for 313 squadron.
H2-2022 First flight F-030 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Seventh F-35A for 313 squadron.
H2-2022 First flight F-029 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Sixth F-35A for 313 squadron.
H2-2022 First flight F-027 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Fourth F-35A for 313 squadron.
07-11-23 First flight F-038 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Fifteenth and final F-35A for 313 squadron.
10-10-23 First flight F-036 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Thirteenth F-35A for 313 squadron.
28-09-23 Delivery of aircraft F-037 to Volkel Air Base. Fourteenth F-35A for 313 squadron.
27-09-23 Delivery of aircraft F-035 to Leeuwarden Air Base. Twelfth F-35A for 313 squadron.
03-04-23 Seven F-35A's returned from Malbork, Poland to Volkel AB.
31-03-23 One F-35A returned from Malbork, Poland to Leeuwarden AB.
31-03-23 Official end of NATO eFP by 322 squadron. 2 F-35A's on QRA with 2 sparesa and 4 for training with partners.
15-03-23 F-030 flown from Leeuwarden to Volkel after completing acceptance tests.
10-03-23 F-031 flown from Leeuwarden to Volkel after completing acceptance tests.
22-02-23 Delivery of aircraft F-034 to Volkel Air Base. Eleventh F-35A for 313 squadron.
01-02-23 Official start of NATO eFP by 322 squadron. 2 F-35A's on QRA with 2 sparesa and 4 for training with partners.
27-01-23 Eight F-35A's departed Leeuwarden and flew to Malbork AB, Poland. Four for QRA and four to train with allies.
14-12-22 Delivery of aircraft F-033 to Volkel Air Base. Tenth F-35A for 313 squadron.
01-12-22 First flight F-034 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Eleventh F-35A for 313 squadron.
16-11-22 Delivery of aircraft F-032 to Volkel Air Base. Ninth F-35A for 313 squadron.
16-11-22 Delivery of aircraft F-031 to Leeuwarden Air Base. Eight F-35A for 313 squadron.
11-11-22 First flight F-033 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Tenth F-35A for 313 squadron.
21-10-22 Delivery of aircraft F-030 to Leeuwarden Air Base. Seventh F-35A for 313 squadron.
28-09-22 First flight F-032 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Ninth F-35A for 313 squadron.
20-09-22 First flight F-031 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Eighth F-35A for 313 squadron.
31-08-22 Delivery of aircraft F-029 to Volkel AB. Sixth F-35A for 313 squadron.
04-08-22 Delivery of aircraft F-027 to Volkel AB. Fourth F-35A for 313 squadron.
28-07-22 First flight F-030 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Seventh F-35A for 313 squadron.
27-07-22 Delivery of aircraft F-028 to Volkel AB. Fifth F-35A for 313 squadron.
26-07-22 First flight F-029 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Sixth F-35A for 313 squadron.
30-06-22 First Aircraft Arrival F-35 at Volkel AB. Four F-35A's (F-020, F-023, F-024 and F-025) arrived from Leeuwarden. From
  July 1st, 313 squadron will conduct their Lightning operations from their home base. F-35A deliveries from Cameri,
  Italy will now be made to the air base in Noord-Brabant.
24-06-22 The Department of Defence announced it will accelerate the purchase of the six F-35A's. To be delivered in 2025 these
  need to be contracted by mid July 2022.
20-06-22 First flight F-027 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Fourth F-35A for 313 squadron.
16-06-22 First flight F-028 to be delivered to Volkel Air Base. Fifth F-35A for 313 squadron.
02-06-22 322 squadron F-35A's returned from Bulgaria.
01-06-22 On 1 June 2002, the Department of Defence published its "Defensienota" outlining its plans for the armed forces. An
  additional six F-35A Lightning II stealth aircraft will be purchased. Also precision guided weapons and long range
  missiles will be bought to arm the fighters,
31-05-22 NATO eAP mission in Bulgaria concluded.
08-04-22 Delivery of aircraft F-026 to Leeuwarden AB. Third F-35A for 313 squadron and to be based at Volkel end of June 2022.
06-04-22 322 squadron deployed with four F-35A to Graf Ignatievo, Bulgaria in support of NATO enhanced air policing. The
  squadron completed its eAP mission on May 31.
22-03-22 Delivery of aircraft F-025 to Leeuwarden AB. Second F-35A for 313 squadron and to be based at Volkel end of June 2022.
02-03-22 First flight F-026 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base. Third F-35A for 313 squadron.
01-03-22 First flight F-025 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base. Second F-35A for 313 squadron.
24-02-22 The department of defence announced two F-35A's are assigned to NATO in support of QRA mission over Poland.
20-01-22 Department of Defence announces two F-35A's will be based in Bulgaria for air policing in April and May
12-01-22 Delivery of aircraft F-024 to Leeuwarden AB. First F-35A for 313 squadron and to be based at Volkel end of June 2022.
12-01-22 Delivery of aircraft F-023 to Leeuwarden AB. Fifteenth and last F-35A for 322 squadron.
27-12-22 RNLAF declares 322 squadron IOC.
13-12-21 First flight F-024 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
Unknown First flight F-023 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
25-11-21 Delivery of aircraft F-022 to Leeuwarden AB.
24-11-21 Eight F-35's arrived back at Leeuwarden after taking part in exercise Frisian Lightning II at Edwards AFB, California.
25-10-21 Eight F-35's departed to Edwards AFB, Californona through Burlington, Vermont for exercise Frisian Lightning II.
14-10-21 First flight F-022 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
06-10-21 Delivery of aircraft F-021 to Leeuwarden AB.
29-09-21 Delivery of aircraft F-020 to Leeuwarden AB. 700th build F-35.
31-08-21 Delivery of aircraft F-019 to Leeuwarden AB.
25-08-21 First flight F-021 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
24-08-21 First flight F-020 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
23-07-21 First flight F-019 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
25-05-21 Delivery of aircraft F-018 to Leeuwarden AB.
12-05-21 First flight F-018 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
25-03-21 Delivery of aircraft F-017 to Leeuwarden AB.
02-03-21 First flight F-017 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
17-02-21 Delivery of aircraft F-016 to Leeuwarden AB.
26-01-21 First flight F-016 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
24-12-20 Delivery of aircraft F-015 to Leeuwarden AB.
10-12-20 First flight F-015 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
17-11-20 Delivery of aircraft F-014 to Leeuwarden AB.
27-10-20 Delivery of aircraft F-013 to Leeuwarden AB.
01-10-20 The first four-ship F-35A flight was flown in the morning (Leeuwarden air base).
02-09-20 First flight F-014 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
25-08-20 First flight F-013 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
14-07-20 Delivery of aircraft F-012 to Leeuwarden AB. The first two aircraft LRIP 12 aircraft of eight ordered.
14-07-20 Delivery of aircraft F-011 to Leeuwarden AB. The first two aircraft LRIP 12 aircraft of eight ordered.
18-06-20 First flight F-012 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
15-06-20 First flight F-011 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Air Base.
21-05-20 Aircraft F-001 (AN-1) transferred from 323 TES at Edwards AFB, Californnia to NODF-35 / 308th FS at Luke AFB, Arizona.
16-12-19 Delivery of F-010 to Leeuwarden AB completing the delivery of eight LRIP 11 F-35A's. Six in the USA, two in NL.
31-10-19 Delivery of F-009 to Leeuwarden AB becoming the first operational based F-35A in The Netherlands.
12-09-19 Official roll-out ceremony for aircraft F-009.
09-09-19 First flight F-009 to be delivered to Leeuwarden Ai Base. First FACO Cameri, Italy build aircraft for the RNLAF.
10-05-19 F-008 delivered to 323 TES Edwards, AFB, California. Last aircraft delivered by Fort Worth, TX.
08-05-19 F-35A Limited Military Type Certificate issued.
01-05-19 F-002 passed 1.000 flight hours.
15-04-19 First flight F-008 to be delivered to NODF-35 (308 FS) Luke AFB, Arizona. Last aircraft of the Fort Worth production line.
19-03-19 F-005 delivered to NODF-35 (308 FS) Luke AFB, Arizona.
12-03-19 F-007 delivered to NODF-35 (308 FS) Luke AFB, Arizona.
06-03-19 F-006 delivered to NODF-35 (308 FS) Luke AFB, Arizona.
20-02-19 First flight F-007 to be delivered to NODF-35 (308 FS) Luke AFB, Arizona.
07-02-19 F-004 delivered to NODF-35 (308 FS) Luke AFB, Arizona.
04-02-19 F-003 delivered to NODF-35 (308 FS) Luke AFB, Arizona.
30-01-19 Official roll-out of F-35A F-003 (first flight on December 15, 2018).
28-01-19 First flight F-006 to be delivered to NODF-35 (308 FS) Luke AFB, Arizona.
23-01-19 First flight F-005 to be delivered to NODF-35 (308 FS) Luke AFB, Arizona.
08-01-19 First flight F-004 to be delivered to NODF-35 (308 FS) Luke AFB, Arizona.
15-12-19 First flight F-003 to be delivered to NODF-35 (308 FS) Luke AFB, Arizona.
14-12-18 On December 14, 2018 the government approved the national NATO plan. During the spring of 2019 additional
  money from the state budget will be divided with the intention for an additional investment in defence. Part of
  additional budget will be allocated to extra F-35A's. Minister of Defence Bijleveld referred to about 15 aircraft.
17-10-18 MoD announced to buy the final three F-35s  confirming the buy of 37 aircraft. Order to be placed in October 2018
  to include these aircraft into the production of Lot 15 with delivery in 2023.
16-10-18 After a crash of an USMC F-35B a fleet wide inspection of the F-35s was ordered. The inspection revealed that
  one of the 323 TES F-35A's will need to receive new fuel lines.
15-06-18 Start of assembly of the first F-35A build by Leonardo at Camera Italy.
10-06-16 Official presentation to the public at the Luchtmachtdagen (Air Force Days) at Leeuwarden.
07-06-16 F-35A flight over The Netherlands.
26-05-16 Belevingsvluchten (experience flights)  for Leeuwarden and Volkel residents.
23-05-16 Arrival of the two F-35As at Leeuwarden Air Base.
16-01-15 Both F-35A's were flown (5 hour flight) from Eglin AFB, Florida to Edwards AFB, California. They joined
  the Operational Test & Evaluation phase.
04-11-14 323 squadron activated as the first RNLAF F-35 squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida on Tuesday November 4, 2014
18-12-13 The first F-35A (F-001) solo flight by a RNLAF was conducted by Major Laurens Jan Vijge from Eglin AFB, Florida..
10-10-13 The first Dutch pilots started the pilot training program theoratic phase with first flights planned in December.
  Training commenced to be ready for the operational test and development phase to start in 2015.
25-07-13 First F-35A (AN-1 / F-001) handed over by the US DoD.
04-04-13 Both F-35s grounded until the government made a decision about the replacement of the F-16. See note
06-03-13 Second F-35A (F-002) rolled of the production line at Fort, Worth, Texas.
06-08-12 Roll out of the first Dutch F-35A (F-001).
09-02-12 Jet engine installed on the first F-35A (F-001).
14-11-06 Poduction Sustainment & Follow-on Development (PSFD) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with US.
2011 Order for the second (test) RNLAF F-35A.
02-06-09 Order for the first (test) RNLAF F-35A.
29-02-08 Government decided to take part in the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation phase (IOT&E).
2002 Netherlands Tier / Level 2 partner JSF (Joint Strike Fighter Progeam).