Royal Netherlands Air Force - Strength

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
AĆ©rospatiale 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

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