LEEUWARDEN, The Netherlands - From March 27 to April 7, 2017
Leeuwarden Air Base, the Netherlands, hosts another edition of exercise
Frisian Flag, one of the largest international live-fly fighter
exercises in Europe. For two weeks fighter aircraft from NATO Allies
Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United
States will work together with the Royal Netherlands Air Force executing
a variety of air missions.
More than
60 aircraft will be hosted on the ramps of Leeuwarden Air Base in the
Frisian Flag 2017; twice a day approx. 50 jets will participate in
so-called waves to take-off for air missions. The jets flying in Frisian
Flag 2017 include F-16M, F-15C, Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado GR4,
Mirage 2000D fighter aircraft and DA-20 from a civilian contractor.
Integrated into exercise to Frisian Flag, the tanker exercise "European
Air Refueling Training" or EART 17 will be held at Eindhoven Air Base.
Linking these two exercises offers realistic aerial refueling scenarios
at the international level benefiting both fighter and tanker aircraft.
Exercise
Frisian Flag takes place in the skies above of Netherlands, Germany and
Denmark. In order to make this possible, all airspace control
authorities of the countries concerned cooperate closely. Command and
control of aircraft inside the entire training area will be provided by
Dutch and German Control and Reporting Centre (CRCs) as well as by an
AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft.
The
Frisian Flag 2017 media event will take place on March 28 and a
spotters' day will be organized on March 31. Contact Leeuwarden Air Base
at
vliegbasisleeuwarden@gmail.com.
More information will be available from the beginning of the exercise at
www.defensie.nl.
Story based on information provided by Public Affairs Office Leeuwarden Air Base