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Security of the European Airspace
NATO Aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert; Siauliai, January 14, 2020
Every day NATO fighter aircraft are on Quick Reaction Alert in all European countries. These aircraft are always 24 hours a day 365 days a year on standby to protect the borders of European airspace from unwanted intruders. During these missions the aircraft are used to inspect and guide unidentified aircraft. The control and security of European airspace takes place in Europe in a collaboration of all NATO partners and Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries. Fast and coordinated communication with each other is vital for the defense.
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349 Squadron Baltic Air Policing
Belgian F-16s on Quick Reaction Alert; Siauliai, January 14, 2020
The Belgian Air Force would take on the Baltic Air Policing task in 2020 with the 349 Squadron of the Belgian air base Kleine-Brogel. The unit had landed at Siauliai in Lithuania for this security mission. A platform and a few hangars have been set up at this airbase for this NATO Quick Reaction Alert mission in Lithuania. The Baltic Air Policing is a NATO mission carried out by the American and European partner countries in the Baltic States. These countries are unable to defend their own airspace against intruders, especially from Russia.
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75 Years 298 Squadron
Chinooks of the Dutch Air Force; Oirschotse Heide, April 13, 2020
On April 16, 2020, it was exactly 75 years ago that the 298 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force was founded. The unit was founded on April 16, 1945 at Gilze-Rijen Air Base as the no 6 Dutch Auster Squadron and was equipped with six Auster Mk.III's. Since 2008 when the Defense Helicopter Command (DHC) was founded the 298 Squadron moved to its current location Gilze-Rijen Air Base. The Royal Netherlands Air Force has currently a total of 17 Chinook helicopters in use in both the Netherlands as the United States.
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Apache Brown Out Landing
Training Personnel Recovery; Oirschotse Heide, April 16 - 23, 2020
In April multiple AH-64D Apaches of the 301 Redskins Squadron made several brown out landings at the Oirschotse Heide in the Netherlands. It is quite rare to see Apaches performing these kinds of landings in the Netherlands. Normally the Apache are not landing at the heath, because they are generally protecting other helicopters such as the Chinook and the Cougar. Here the scenario of personnel recovery is simulated where the AH-64D Apache will make a landing to pick up one or two persons mostly from harsch hostile terrain.
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Alpha-Golf, Scramble, Scramble, Scramble
F-16s on Quick Reaction Alert; Volkel, April 29, 2020
Volkel Air Base is the home of the 312 Squadron and the 313 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) and is still flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Also there are F-16s on QRA at Volkel. The QRA will roulette with Leeuwarden and the Belgian Airbases Kleine-Brogel and Florennes. Volkel Air Base is one of these airfields which can have a scramble. There are always Dutch or Belgian F-16AM Fighting Falcon aircraft on standby at Leeuwarden, Volkel, Kleine-Brogel or Florennes to secure the skies of both countries.
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Delivery First Airbus A330 MRTT
Historical Tanker Delivery at Eindhoven; Eindhoven, June 30, 2020
On Tuesday, June 30, it was time for the first Airbus A330-200 MRTT for the Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit (MMU) to be delivered to Eindhoven Air Base. The aircraft with registration number T-055 is the first Airbus of a series of eight aircraft that has been purchased by the international consortium. Of the eight aircraft, five will be based on Eindhoven and three on Cologne-Bonn. In the Netherlands, the A330-200 MRTT, which is also referred to as the KC-30M, will replace the KDC-10 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
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US Army 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade
Operation Atlantic Resolve, part 1; Eindhoven, July 2, 2020
The 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade of the 3st Infantry Division is the fifth division deployment in Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Operation Atlantic Resolve is a military deployment in Europe. While it is not a "real" military operation, it is an operation in which many American units are stationed in Europe. Operation Atlantic Resolve is an ongoing effort in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine. This mainly concerns the war in Donbass in eastern Ukraine around Donetsk. Operation Atlantic Resolve is funded by the EDI.
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US Army 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade
Operation Atlantic Resolve, part 2; Rotterdam, July 6, 2020
The 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade of the 3st Infantry Division is the fifth division's deployment in Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The unit would withdraw to the United States in July 2020. The unit will leave Europe via the port of Rotterdam and will be relieved by the 101CAB. The Netherlands will act as host country for the withdrawal of the soldiers and the equipment of the 3rd Infantry Division. This Dutch deployment falls under the so-called Host Nation Support. NATO allies support each other in movements across each other's territory.
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14 Julliet, Bastille Day 2020
The Annual Parade in Paris; Evreux, July 14, 2020
The French national holiday La Fete Nationale is abroad also known as Bastille Day. The day is annually celebrated in France on July 14. The storming of the Bastille in Paris is commemorated on this day on which the French Revolution started. A large military parade is traditionally annually held since July 14, 1789. The parade runs along the Champ Elysees from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde where the stand for the officials is located. This parade in the French capital is the oldest military parade in the world.
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F-16s of the no 312 Squadron
Bonzo's Falcons from Volkel; Volkel, July 23, 2020
One of the F-16 squadrons at Volkel Air Base is the no 312 Squadron. On December 1, 1951, the 312 squadron was established and the new unit initially flew with the F-84E Thunderjet. Today, the Bonzo squadron is fully operational on the F-16 MLU and will switch in the upcoming years to the F-35A Lightning II. Leeuwarden is currently in the transition to the F-35A Lightning II and Volkel will also exchange the F-16 Fighting Falcon for this new type in the coming years. The F-16 Fighting Falcon of the RNLAF is still going strong !!!
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Delivery of the Second A330 MRTT
New Tanker Delivery at Eindhoven; Eindhoven, August 10, 2020
Today, the second Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) aircraft was delivered to the Multinational MRTT Unit (MMU) during a delivery flight from Getafe in Spain, at the Main Operating Base in Eindhoven (The Netherlands). The Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) fleet will soon enter into service to provide strategic transport, air-to-air refueling and medical evacuation capabilities to its six participating nations (Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Norway) and is a good corporation of nations.
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