Netherlands Defence Note
On 1 June 2022, the Dutch Minister of Defence, Kajsa Ollongren, officially presented the Defence Note 2022. The government is allocating an additional budget of € 5 billion per year, which is 40 percent more than the current situation. Minister Ollongren spoke of a historic moment because of the amount and also because of the war in Ukraine.
Looking specifically at the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force) the Defence Note shows the following changes and investments:
- an order for six additional F-35A Lightning IIs, increasing the total number of F-35As to 52
- establishing a third F-35A squadron next to 322 Squadron at Leeuwarden air base and 313 Squadron at Volkel air base
- an order for four additional MQ-9A Reaper Unmanned Combat Aerial System, increasing the capacity to eight Reapers
- all Reapers will be armed, the Parliament will be informed in 2023 with a Statement of Needs (so-called A letter)
- upgrading the AS532 Cougar squadron to support special operations
- replacing the AS532 Cougar with a Medium Utility Helicoper, the Parliament will be informed in 2023 with a Statement of Needs (so-called A letter)
- replacing the C-130H/C-130H-30 air transport capacity *) and adding an extra aircraft, the Parliament will be informed this year on the research phase (so-called B letter)
*) Scramble Magazine reported in September 2020 on the replacement of the Hercules transporters and that the Dutch government most probably would acquire five new Super Hercules. More recent rumours within the Dutch military indicate a possible preference for the Embraer (K)C-390 Millennium transporter.
Also reported in the Defence Note are the following noteworthy points:
- replacement of the Gulfstream IV in 2022
- transforming a battalion of the Airmobile Brigade into a Support Unit for Special Operations Forces (SOF) and set up of a special helicopter for SOF support
- replacement Initial Pilot Training Capacity, the Parliament will be informed this year on the research phase (so-called B letter)
- replacement NH90, Parliament will be informed after 2027 with a Statement of Needs (so-called A letter)
- various upgrades on the AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and the CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters
Photo by Richard Baas (Scramble Archive)