Strength
Aircraft | Origin | Type | In service | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter Aircraft | ||||||
Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon | Netherlands/ United States | Multirole fighter aircraft | 68 | 213 License-built by Fokker of which 37 were sold to Chile, 9 were sold to Jordan, 45 are kept in storage. | ||
F-35A Lightning II | United States | Multirole stealth strike fighter aircraft | 1+1 | 2 units ordered as part of LRIP (Low-Rate-Initial-Production). One was delivered in April 2012. | ||
Trainers | ||||||
Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer | Switzerland | Light Training Aircraft | 13 | Painted yellow/red before, now black with 2 yellow markings | ||
Transporters | ||||||
Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules | United States | Medium transport aircraft | 4 | 2 ex-US Navy EC-130Q's were converted to C-130H for RNLAF by Marshall Aerospace. Upon completion of the contract the 2 C-130H-30s will be updated the same standard as the 2 short fuselage C-130Hs. | ||
McDonnell Douglas KDC-10 | United States | Wide body transport aircraft | 3 | 2 Aerial refuelling and 1 passenger/cargo transport (passenger/cargo transport will be sold). | ||
Gulfstream IV | United States | Light utility aircraft | 1 | VIP transport | ||
Dornier 228 | Germany | Coastal patrol duties | 2 | Wearing civil registrations but with military (air force and navy) crews | ||
Helicopters | ||||||
Aérospatiale SA316B Alouette III | France | Light VIP helicopter | 4 | Only used for aerial photography and Royal/VIP flights | ||
Agusta-Bell 412 | Italy | Light SAR and utility helicopter | 3 | SAR role, supporting the RNLAF training area over Vlieland and the Wadden Sea. Will be disposed of under 2011 spending plans. | ||
Boeing AH-64D Apache | United States | Attack helicopter | 29 | (30 were procured but 1 crashed in 2004). Dutch Apaches are AH-64D but without the AN/APG-78 Longbow radar. Equipped with the Apache Arrowhead sensor upgrade. All are to be upgraded to the Block II standard. | ||
Eurocopter AS 532U2 Cougar Mk2 | France | Medium utility helicopter | 8 | Mid-Life Update programme as of 2009. A total of 17 ordered, but 9 were put in storage as part of budget cuts. | ||
Boeing CH-47D/F Chinook | United States | Heavy lift helicopter | 17 | 7 former Canadian Forces CH-47C were sold to the Dutch in 1991 and modernized to D standard. 6 new CH-47D in 1995 for a total of 13. 6 CH-47Fs on order (4 new and 2 to replace losses) and options for 2 CH-47Fs | ||
NH Industries NH-90 | European Union | NATO frigate helicopter | 20 | Deliveries will start in 2010. 12 NFH-90s for use aboard frigates and destroyers and 8 (+2 in option) Tactical NFH to replace 300 Sq Eurocopter AS 532U2 Cougar Mk2 |
Read more about this topic: Royal Netherlands Air Force
Famous quotes containing the word strength:
“For my people lending their strength to the years: to the gone
years and the now years and the maybe years, washing ironing cooking scrubbing sewing mending hoeing plowing digging planting pruning patching dragging along never gaining never reaping never knowing and never understanding;”
—Margaret Abigail Walker (b. 1915)
“Production and consumption are the nipples of modern society. Thus suckled, humanity grows in strength and beauty; rising standard of living, all modern conveniences, distractions of all kinds, culture for all, the comfort of your dreams.”
—Raoul Vaneigem (b. 1934)
“The same strength of character which helps a man resist love, helps to make it more violent and lasting too. People of unsettled minds are always driven about with passions, but never absolutely filled with any.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (16131680)