Flying in the total darkness has been a challenge for all military pilots and specially for the the fighter pilot for many years. This is also no exception in the Royal Netherlands Air Force. To train these skills, a number of weeks per year pilots are intensively trained in flying under these conditions. The Dutch F-16s are nowadays well equipped to fly in the darkness. That the Dutch F-16s can be well used in the dark with the help of this modern equipment is not of all times. The Dutch F-16s have only been able to operate decently in the dark since the introduction of the MLU program in the late 1990s. For this necessary update night vision equipment for the F-16 pilots was limited to a simple Night Vision Goggle on the helmet of the pilot. For airmen from Leeuwarden and Volkel Air Base, night flights are essential to keep the deployment readiness trained. During deployments to crisis areas such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, the F-16s are mainly deployed in the darkness of the night. It is therefore vitally important that the pilots are well prepared for such missions. With the start of the winter period, the F-16s and F-35s will fly from Leeuwarden Air Base and the F-16s from Volkel Air Base in the evening hours. The night flying exercises are necessary to prepare ground personnel and pilots optimally for their task. The aircraft must be deployable 24/7 anywhere in the world when requested by the Dutch government.
In the period from November 2, until December 10, flights from Leeuwarden Air Base and Volkel Air Base will take place from Monday to Thursday up to a maximum of 10.30 pm. The early darkness at this time of the year makes it possible to train intensively with night flights. The F-16s will be launched daily from 4 pm. The aircraft is perfectly equipped for night operations with night vision equipment. To make sure that pilots are prepared for night missions during current and future deployments, regular training in the darkness is required. The F-16s often fly combined missions involving aircraft from both Dutch airfields. The F-16s usually fly their first wave from 4:00 pm with the aircraft returning just after sunset for landing at their home base. The second wave takes place in total darkness, as the aircraft are launched around 7:00 pm. In practice, most aircraft will return to their home base between 8:30 pm and 9:00 pm. The Royal Netherlands Air Force has equipped the F-16s with some important systems that allow the F-16s to operate perfectly in the dark. These systems are the Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) which is mounted on the air intake on the right side of the F-16 and the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) mounted on the pilot's helmet, which acts as an advanced night vision goggles.
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