Air Power, Insurgency and the “War on Terror” - Prof. Joel Hayward's ...

Chapter 14
EPAF EAW is inherently flexible as it allows for different participation levels. It is possible
to make arrangements with two or more countries, depending on <strong>the</strong> situation <strong>and</strong> on
<strong>the</strong> countries that want <strong>and</strong> can contribute to a particular deployment. It is a prerogative
of each participant to define its level of commitment in each particular operation. With
regard to aircraft maintenance, partner air forces can arrange to perform maintenance on
each o<strong>the</strong>r’s aircraft <strong>and</strong> ground equipment.648 This combined approach to air power has
allowed European F-16 users a sustained presence in Central Asia.
Distinct Doctrinal Features of <strong>the</strong> Royal Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>Air</strong> Force
With regard to <strong>the</strong> development of distinct doctrinal features, exploiting air power’s
inherent flexibility to <strong>the</strong> maximum, <strong>the</strong> Royal Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>Air</strong> Force has been at <strong>the</strong>
leading edge of European air power.
When Operation Deny Flight commenced on 12 April 1993, Dutch F-16s, toge<strong>the</strong>r with
US Navy F/A-18s, flew <strong>the</strong> first combat air patrol missions over Bosnia on <strong>the</strong> very same
day, <strong>and</strong> a mere ten days later, Dutch F-16s were among <strong>the</strong> first to fly night combat air
patrol missions. The Dutch detachment accounted for roughly ten percent of <strong>the</strong> overall
allied commitment <strong>and</strong> consisted of eighteen F-16s, which were configured for three roles
– air defence, air-to-ground strikes, <strong>and</strong> tactical reconnaissance. 21 November 1994 saw
<strong>the</strong> first air strikes against ground targets by Dutch F-16 aircraft. The strikes were directed
at <strong>the</strong> airfield at Udbina in <strong>the</strong> Krajina region. In <strong>the</strong> planning process, Royal Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s
<strong>Air</strong> Force personnel played a key role <strong>and</strong> a Dutch Major acted as <strong>the</strong> overall mission
comm<strong>and</strong>er during <strong>the</strong> attack itself. 649
During Operation Deliberate Force, Dutch F-16s conducted air defence, air-to-ground
strike, as well as reconnaissance missions. Of a total of 3,515 sorties flown <strong>and</strong> 1,026
bombs dropped, <strong>the</strong> Royal Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>Air</strong> Force accounted for over ten percent of <strong>the</strong>se
figures. 650 Throughout <strong>the</strong> campaign, Dutch F-16s dropped exclusively unguided Mk.82
<strong>and</strong> Mk.84 bombs. 651 Given that <strong>the</strong> American air component comm<strong>and</strong>er put a premium
upon <strong>the</strong> avoidance of collateral damage <strong>and</strong> considered dumb bombs unnecessarily risky
to use, 652 this must have required a great degree of trust in Dutch skills. According to <strong>the</strong>
account of a high-ranking RNAF officer, Dutch F-16 were able to place unguided bombs
accurately by diving below <strong>the</strong> minimum flight altitude, 653 a measure that was considered
as too risky by o<strong>the</strong>r allies. 654
Apart from employing unguided bombs with accuracy, <strong>the</strong> Royal Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>Air</strong> Force
displayed fur<strong>the</strong>r distinct national approaches to air power in <strong>the</strong> air campaigns over
Bosnia. Towards <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> Cold War, <strong>the</strong> Royal Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>Air</strong> Force introduced
<strong>the</strong> so called swing-role concept. According to this concept, aircraft <strong>and</strong> pilot can execute
<strong>Air</strong> <strong>Power</strong>, <strong>Insurgency</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> “War on Terror” 251