Two major air exercises in the Netherlands.

The airspace of the Netherlands and the North Sea will be congested from 1 to 12 April 2019. Two major exercises are currently underway in this area: Frisian Flag organized by the Dutch Air Force and the NATO and EART organized by the EATC (European Air Transport Command).

Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 (Picture source:Adrian Pingstone )

Frisian Flag brings together 70 NATO aircraft at Leeuwarden Air Base. The goal is to organize complex missions that can include up to 50 devices. Germany participates in the exercise with Typhoons, France with Mirage 2000D, the Netherlands, Poland and the United States with F-16s and Switzerland with F-18s.

In flight, these hunters will be able to be refueled by devices participating in the EART  exercise by EATC. This exercise focuses on the use of in-flight refueling aircraft. The threat response procedures will be highlighted at the 2019 edition. Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States participate in the exercise. Italy sent monitors and Australia observers.