The Quest for Relevant Air Power

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two air forces to work closely together in Operation Allied Force
in 1999, reducing redundancies in areas such as logistics and operational
planning. 62 For instance, the DATF incorporated a combined
planning cell for the preparation of contingency plans. 63
Moreover, the Luxembourg Army provided a tailored ground security
force for deployed operations. 64 The concept was particularly
furthered because both air forces were operating F-16
fighter-bombers and because it was fully in line with NATO’s
combined joint task force concept, endorsed by the alliance in
January 1994.
Prior to the establishment of the DATF, the RNLAF together
with the Belgian, Danish, and the Norwegian Air Forces set up the
European Participating Air Forces (EPAF). EPAF members were
all F-16 customers, and the concept was originally conceived for
procurement purposes to pool national requirements and to gain
bargaining leverage (an issue that is discussed in the section on
procurement). The EPAF particularly laid out the common requirement
for the MLU of the European F-16 Block 15 A/B. 65
With a Dutch, Danish, and Norwegian EPAF deployment to
Central Asia in 2002, DATF concepts were transferred into an
EPAF context. Together with the Danish and Norwegian Air Forces,
the RNLAF participated in the air operations over Afghanistan.
Courtesy Netherlands Institute for Military History; photo by H. Keeris
A KDC-10 refuelling an F-16 in midair over Central Asia in the course of
Operation Enduring Freedom