1,100 personnel and 48 aircraft from 7 NATO nations have descended on Leeuwarden Air Force Base in the Netherlands for the start of the two-week-long “FRISIAN FLAG” exercise.
The local Dutch population have been treated to the spectacle of Tornados, Typhoons, Mirage and F-16 aircraft taking off on the exercise, which was organised by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) and runs from 27 March to 7 April 2017.
The RAF has deployed six Tornado GR4s for the exercise in which they will at times simulate the “Red Force Element, effectively playing the part of the enemy that will attempt to breach the defences of opposing forces from the USA 12 F-15s, France 5 Mirage 2000, Germany 10 Eurofighters, Portugal 5 F-16s, Belgium 7 F-16s and the Netherlands with 12 F-16s, they will also be playing “Blue” friendly forces.
EX FRISIAN FLAG aims to provide aircrew with experience of the planning, execution and debriefing of large scale composite air operations (COMAO) in realistic scenarios by allowing partner NATO nations to work alongside one another, test each other’s capabilities and develop a close working relationship. Missions being flown include various air defence scenarios including protection / escort of high value aircraft and the attack of ground targets on land and sea in a high threat environment, which include opposing fighter aircraft and ground based Patriot and SA-6 missile batteries.
Fighters
F-16AM Fighting Falcon 15101 Esq201/301 Portugese Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon 15104 Esq201/301 Portugese Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon 15105 Esq201/301 Portugese Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon 15110 Esq201/301 Portugese Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon 15115 Esq201/301 Portugese Air Force
Eurofighter EF2000 30+52 TLG31 German Air Force
Eurofighter EF2000 30+98 TLG31 German Air Force
Eurofighter EF2000 31+29 TLG31 German Air Force
Eurofighter EF2000 31+30 TLG31 German Air Force
Eurofighter EF2000 31+31 TLG31 German Air Force Spirit of Oswald Boelcke
Eurofighter EF2000 31+33 TLG31 German Air Force
Eurofighter EF2000 31+34 TLG31 German Air Force
Eurofighter EF2000 31+36 TLG31 German Air Force
Eurofighter EF2000 31+39 TLG31 German Air Force
Eurofighter EF2000 31+40 TLG31 German Air Force
Mirage 2000D 653/3-AU ETD02.007 French Air Force
Mirage 2000D 617/3-IS EC01.003 French Air Force
Mirage 2000D 668/3-IG EC01.003 French Air Force
Mirage 2000D 671/3-XK EC03.003 French Air Force
Mirage 2000D 677/3-JT EC02.003 French Air Force
F-15D Eagle 80-0058 159th FS FL ANG
F-15C Eagle 81-0039/JZ 122nd FS LA ANG
F-15C Eagle 81-0041/JZ 122nd FS LA ANG
F-15C Eagle 83-0012/JZ 122nd FS LA ANG
F-15C Eagle 83-0036/JZ 122nd FS LA ANG
F-15C Eagle 83-0041/JZ 122nd FS LA ANG
F-15C Eagle 85-0096 159th FS FL ANG
F-15C Eagle 85-0102/JZ 122nd FS LA ANG commander
F-15C Eagle 86-0148 159th FS FL ANG
F-15C Eagle 86-0155 159th FS FL ANG
F-15C Eagle 86-0161 159th FS FL ANG
F-15C Eagle 86-0162 159th FS FL ANG
F-16AM Fighting Falcon FA-70 10w Belgian Air Force 75 years 349 sq
F-16AM Fighting Falcon FA-116 10w Belgian Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon FA-118 10w Belgian Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon FA-121 2w Belgian Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon FA-124 10w Belgian Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon FA-128 2w Belgian Air Force
F-16BM Fighting Falcon FB-24 10w Belgian Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-002 322sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-005 312sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-009 322sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-011 312sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-016 312sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-020 312sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-063 313sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-136 312sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-144 322sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-362 323sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-509 312sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-513 323sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-628 322sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-630 312sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-632 322sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-642 312/313sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-871 322sq Royal Netherlands Air Force
Tornado GR.4A ZA369/003 31sq Marham Wing RAF
Tornado GR.4 ZA447/019 31sq Marham Wing RAF
Tornado GR.4 ZA459/025 31sq Marham Wing RAF
Tornado GR.4 ZA472/031 31sq Marham Wing RAF
Tornado GR.4 ZA554/046 31sq Marham Wing RAF
Tornado GR.4 ZG779/136 31sq Marham Wing RAF
Support
Dassault Falcon 20C G-FRAU Cobham Aviation
All pictures Rob Vogelaar
