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Royal Netherlands Air Force squadrons 1990 - present |
Latest update: June 2018 |
Below report contains the 'flying' squadrons of the RNLAF which are currently operational together with the squadrons which have been deactivated since 1990. Except these squadrons the RNLAF fields squadrons at its air bases specialized in aircraft maintenance and air base services (ATC, fire dept. etc). |
Anniversaries: 2018 |
10 years: Defence Helicopter Command July 10. 65 years: 313 squadron December 1. 70 years: 323 TES May 1. 75 years: 322 squadron June 12 and 860 squadron June 15. Note: 323 squadron deactivated at as an F-16 squadron af Leeuwarden on Friday October 31, 2014 and was reactivated at Eglin AFB, Florida as 323 TES on Tuesday November 4, 2014. To celebrate the anniversaries two F-16s received anniversary markings: 313 squadron F-16BM J-882 and 322 squadron F-16AM J-879. MVK De Kooy celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2018. |
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Note(s): 7 squadron: Is responsible for training of aircrews, maintenance personnel and other personnel working with the NH90-NFH from ships (flight deck crews, boarding teams, medics). Furthermore the squadron is responsible for test and evaluation. 299 squadron: Is responsible for the training of helicopter crews in the Netherlands and borrows aircraft from the operational squadrons when required. The squadron deacticated as an operational squadron on the date in the above table. 306 squadron: The squadron will be reactivated in 2018 at Leeuwarden Air Base. From 2021 it will be fielded with the MQ-9 Reaper of which four will be purchased. 334 squadron: Its two KDC-10 aircraft will be withdrawn from service in 2020 once the two A330MRTTs have arrived at Eindhoven AB. These will be assigned to NATO MFF. Based on the defence white paper published in April 2018 its sole Gulfstream G-IV will be replaced by a yet to be selected new VIP aircraft to enter service in 2022. 336 squadron: The squadron was active until the 1990s operating two F-27.200MAR from Curaçao, Dutch Antilles and reactivated to operate the C-130 Hercules fleet transferred from 334 squadron. |
History: |
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) inherited squadrons from its
Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) and Royal Netherlands Army (RNA)
colleagues: In 1993 The Royal Netherlands Army transferred its 298, 299 and 300 squadrons which formed the Groep Lichte Vliegtuigen (GPLV - light aircraft group) to the RNLAF. Until 1995 the squadrons formed the Groep Helicopters Koninklijke Luchtmacht (GPHKLu - RNLAF Helicopter Group) which transferred into the Tactische Helicopter Groep (THG - Tactical Helicopter Group) in 1995. In 2008 The Royal Netherlands Navy - Marine Luchtvaart Dienst (MLD - Navy aviation service) - transferred its 7 and 860 squadrons to the RNLAF (see DHC).. The RNLAF stood up the Defensie Helikopter Command (DHC - Defence Helicopter Command) with its headquarters at Gilze-Rijen Air Base merging all defence helicopters operations of the RNLAF and RNLN into a single command on July 10, 2008. |
Photo gallery |
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131 (EMVO) squadron | 298 squadron CH-47D | 299 squadron |
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300 squadron | 301 squadron | 303 squadron |
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306 squadron | 311 squadron | 312 squadron |
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313 squadron | 314 squadron | 315 squadron |
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316 squadron | 320 squadron (MARPAT) | 322 squadron |
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323 squadron (323 TES) | 334 squadron | 336 squadron |
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7 / 860 squadron |
Anniversary markings |
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313 squadron | 315 squadron | 322 squadron |
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323 squadron |
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