Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF)

Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) • Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu)

By 2026, the RNLAF has largely completed its transition to the fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II, which has officially taken over the primary responsibility for air defense and the nuclear role from the retired F-16 fleet.

ROYAL NETHERLANDS AIR FORCE • Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu)

Air Force Personnel: ε6,400. Status: Operational (NATO Integrated). Strategy: Territorial defense and international crisis management, with deep integration into NATO's collective structures and a "One Force" cooperation model with Germany and Belgium.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type

• AIRCRAFT 46 combat capable.

Fighter / Ground Attack with 2+ active squadrons:

• 38 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II (12 additional on order).
  • (Note: The F-16 fleet has been phased out, with surplus airframes supplied to Ukraine to support the "fighter coalition").

Special Mission (VIP & Shared Assets):

• 1 Gulfstream G650ER (VIP transport).
• (Note: Strategic AEW&C and Tanker capabilities are provided through the pooled NATO AEW&C Force and the Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) based at Eindhoven AB).

Transport with 1 active squadron:

• 4 Lockheed Martin C-130H/H-30 Hercules.
• (On Order: 5 Embraer C-390 Millennium to replace legacy Hercules fleet).

Training (Fixed-wing):

• 13 Pilatus PC-7 / MKX (8 additional on order).
• 8 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II (Operational Conversion Unit).

• HELICOPTER 85 active airframes (via Defense Helicopter Command).

Attack (Helicopter) with 1 active squadron:

• 16 Boeing AH-64E Apache (12 additional on order).
  • (Note: The fleet is currently completing the transition/remanufacturing from the 'D' to 'E' standard).

Heavy Transport (Helicopter) with 1 active squadron:

• 20 Boeing CH-47F Chinook.

Medium Transport & Utility (Helicopter) with 1 active squadron:

• 12 Airbus H215M / AS532 Cougar.
• (On Order: 12 Airbus H225M selected as a replacement for the Cougar fleet).

Maritime / ASW / SAR (Ship-borne):

• 19 NHIndustries NH90 NFH.
  • (Note: These assets are under the operational control of the Navy for Anti-Submarine Warfare and Search and Rescue duties).

• UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS)

Combat & ISR (Heavy) with 1 active squadron:

• 4 General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper (Unarmed).
  • (Note: Plans exist to double the Reaper fleet and potentially arm these platforms to enhance persistence and strike capability).

• Air Defence (Ground-Based)

Integrated Air & Missile Defence:

• 18 M902 Patriot PAC-3 launchers (Long-range).
• 6 NASAMS II batteries (Short-range).
• 18+ FIM-92 Stinger (Point-defence; including vehicle-mounted on Fennek platforms).

• Air-Launched Weapons

• Air-to-Air (AAM): AIM-9L/M Sidewinder; AIM-9X Sidewinder II; AIM-120B/C-7 AMRAAM.
• Air-to-Surface (ASM): AGM-114K Hellfire II.
• Precision Bombs: JDAM; Paveway II/III; Small Diameter Bomb (SDB).

Strategic Note (2026): The Royal Netherlands Air Force has solidified its role as a key contributor to NATO's high-readiness component. Under the 2024 White Paper, the Kingdom is significantly increasing defense spending (exceeding the 2% GDP benchmark) to fund a third F-35A squadron and modernize its rotary-wing fleet. RNLAF logistics are highly integrated with allies, specifically through the hosting of the Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MMF) fleet at Eindhoven, which provides shared refueling and transport capacity for six NATO nations. Domestic industry, including Damen and DutchAero, continues to support the fleet through the manufacture of F-35 engine components and advanced naval systems.