MILAVIA - MILITARY AVIATION

Aircraft/Inventory

Fixed-wing aircraft

Type:	Number:	Role:
F-16AM Fighting Falcon	112 96	fighter, attack, recce
F-16BM Fighting Falcon	25 9	fighter, attack, training
Pilatus PC-7	13	training
KDC-10	2	tanker, transport
DC-10	1	transport
C-130H-30 Hercules	2	transport
C-130H Hercules	2*	transport
Fokker 60UTA-N	4*	transport, medevac
Fokker 50	2	transport, medevac, VIP
G.1159C Gulfstream IV	1	VIP
Total number:	130

Of the 213 F-16A/Bs originally acquired, 138 were upgraded under the Mid-Life Update program. One MLU was lost, leaving the RNLAF with 137 aircraft at the end of the program. Recent defense cuts have further decreased the number of F-16A/B MLU fighters from 137 to 108. The surplus MLU aircraft are sold to Chile (11x F-16AM, 7x F-16BM) and Jordan (6x F-16BM). Recently, two F-16AM and one F-16BM crashed, one of these F-16AM crashed during a mission in Afghanistan, killing the pilot. This bring the total number to 105.
At the moment only 88 or 87 remain in service, of which 72 are assigned to NATO. It has been decided that more could be sold off, leaving 72 aircraft in service with probably 54 or less assigned to NATO. From this we could conclude that it is very likely that fewer than the reported 85 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters will eventually be acquired.

Recently a DC-10 transport joined the two KDC-10 in order to increase the availability of the latter for the aerial refuelling mission. All three (K)DC-10s carry a two-tone grey colour scheme, replacing the grey-blue-white scheme previously carried by the two KDC-10s. Current plans call for the sale of the light transport Fokker 60s and acquisition of four additional C-130H Hercules medium transports, first two have been bought (former US Navy EC-130Qs) and are currently being overhauled and upgraded by Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge, UK. The two existing C-130H-30 have been repainted in an overal grey scheme, losing the previous two-tone grey camouflage.

Two of the Fokker 60UTA-N aircraft were put into storage at Woensdrecht AB and are up to sale. The other two were converted to MPA for martime duties on the Dutch Antilles, which lasted until October 2007. The two MPAs have now returned home and are also put into storage at Woensdrecht.

Rotary-wing aircraft

Type:	Number:	Role:
AH-64D Apache	30 29	Attack
AS 352U2 Cougar Mk.II	17	Transport
CH-47D Chinook	13 11	Transport
SE3160S Alouette III	4	VIP, liasion
AB-412SP	3	SAR, medevac
Total number:	64

One AH-64D Apache crashed in Afghanistan due to pilot error. Aircraft written off. The ministry of defence planned to sell six AH-64Ds, these plans have now been abandoned. The U.S. DOD was the primary potential customer, but recently it was dediced to order new-built Apaches for the U.S. Army instead. The RNLAF will now retain all Apaches, but only 24 of the helicopters are being fitted with the Lockheed Martin Arrowhead M-TADS/PNVS system.
Despite having been on the air force's wish list for almost a decade now, none of the AH-64D Apache are fitted with the Longbow radar, as found on the -D versions of most other operators, and there seem to be no plans to acquire it.

Two out of 13 CH-47D Chinooks have crashed in Afghanistan and have been written off. Procurement of five additional Chinooks has been approved, which possibly might include new-built CH-47Fs from Boeing and upgrade of the existing CH-47Ds. Although most recent reports suggest that the upgrade might be postponed to 2013.

Other Equipment

Type:	Number:	Role:
MIM-104 Patriot systems	4 3*	ground-based air defense
Stinger	??	man portable air defense

It was decided that one Patriot system could be sold off. Remainder will be upgraded to PAC-III.