Why F-35 Fighter Jets Are Operating From Schiphol Airport This Week.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is conducting a rare two-day exercise. This drill involves F-35 fighter jet deployment at Schiphol Airport (AMS). This is a significant Schiphol Airport military exercise for the country.

Operation Avatar: Training for Crisis

The exercise is officially named Operation Avatar. Its main goal is practicing military deployment from non-military airfields. This ensures maximum flexibility during a crisis or conflict. Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Smaal leads the detachment. He stated the goal is to guarantee deployability. This training helps the RNLAF assess its deployment concept. It tests operating from a major civilian airport.

Four F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters are participating. These jets are from the RNLAF’s 322 Squadron F-35. They are joined by an A330 MRTT tanker aircraft. This Airbus-modified jet supports air-to-air refueling. The A330 MRTT is part of the NATO Multinational MRTT Fleet. The exercise also includes specialized ground crews.

Agile Combat Employment Concept

This Dutch Air Force F-35 drills align with NATO strategy. It is part of the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept. ACE focuses on dispersing assets to multiple locations. This increases survivability and unpredictability in a conflict. Major General Robert Adang noted the value of this training. He said civilian hubs could be key logistical centers. It shows the Randstad region security is a community effort. Local residents may hear temporary jet noise.

Impact on Commercial Aviation

Schiphol Airport officials do not expect delays. Operation Avatar is carefully coordinated with air traffic control. Patricia Vitalis, Schiphol’s operational director, confirmed this. She stated the drill should not affect regular air traffic. However, in a real crisis, fewer flights would be operating.

The civilian airport military operations are temporary. There is no plan for a permanent military presence. The F-35s will perform scheduled departures and arrivals. They will then fly to regular Defense training areas. This two-day test validates the flexible deployment concept. It ensures the Netherlands remains operationally ready.

• The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is testing its ability to conduct military operations from a major civilian hub, Schiphol Airport, during a crisis.
• The exercise, named Operation Avatar, involves four F-35 fighter jets and an Airbus A330 MRTT tanker aircraft.
• This training supports the NATO Agile Combat Employment strategy, enhancing the Royal Netherlands Air Force's deployability from non-military airfields.

For in-depth airline coverage and commercial aviation news, flying.flights delivers timely industry insights.