The Quest for Relevant Air Power

256 │ ROYAL NETHERLANDS Air Force
gramme, established a multinational operational test and evaluation
centre at Leeuwarden Air Base in 1997. 174 Amongst the four
European services involved in the multinational MLU programme,
the RNLAF had the lion’s share, with 138 of its 183 F-16
A/Bs being progressively refurbished and modernized. 175 For Allied
Force, a number of upgraded F-16s were already available. 176
In the course of NATO’s air campaign, F-16A/B MLU aircraft
proved to be a valuable asset as modern multirole-capable combat
aircraft were still in short supply in Europe. 177 In line with the
Netherlands’ push towards expeditionary warfare, the Ministry of
Defence announced in 2003 that it would reduce the number of
F-16A/B MLU aircraft by approximately 30 to a total of 108, with
the aim of lowering operating costs and improving deployability
of the remaining aircraft. 178 When further budget cuts were announced
in mid-2007, the F-16 fleet was further reduced to 87
aircraft. Retirement of these remaining aircraft is currently foreseen
for the period between 2015 and 2021, with an average airframe
age of 31 years. The remaining frontline aircraft are planned
to undergo further upgrade programmes. 179
A relatively cost-effective way to improve a fighter aircraft’s effectiveness
is to attach avionics pods. The RNLAF made extensive
use of this solution. In the wake of Operations Deny Flight and
Deliberate Force, the RNLAF ordered 60 night-vision pods (forwardlooking
infrared or FLIR) and 10 targeting pods (low-altitude
navigation and targeting infrared for night). Delivery of these systems
was expected to start in 1999. Yet, pending delivery of the
LANTIRN pods prior to Operation Allied Force, the commander
in chief, General Droste, took the personal initiative to ask his
American counterpart for pods from USAF arsenals. The USAF
finally lent three LANTIRN pods to the RNLAF for the duration
of Allied Force. To make optimum use of these pods, the Dutch
normally flew in packages of two aircraft, with one plane fitted
with a targeting pod providing buddy-lasing for the second F-16.
For less dangerous missions, these packages grew bigger. In the
aftermath of the air operations over Kosovo and Serbia, the Dutch
increased their initial order of 10 LANTIRN pods to a total of
20. 180 In the meantime, the LANTIRN pods were supplemented
with 22 Litening Block II advanced targeting pods. 181 The close
relationship between the USAF and the RNLAF was especially