The Quest for Relevant Air Power

268 │ ROYAL NETHERLANDS Air Force
Since the Netherlands does not have the capacity to produce
complete main weapon systems nationally, the RNLAF has procured
its major weapon platforms from abroad, primarily from
the United States. Buying American is in line with the Netherlands’
transatlantic orientation, and it reflects the RNLAF’s combat
experience in air campaigns with the USAF being the lead air
force. While this approach makes the Netherlands dependent
upon foreign suppliers, the RNLAF’s procurement policy can be
directed more by combat experience than by politico-industrial
aspects. Undoubtedly, this approach has benefited from shortterm
bargains—such as the procurement of secondhand Chinook
transport helicopters from Canada—and has enhanced the RNLAF’s
combat effectiveness at relatively low costs. Yet, it does not contribute
to the overarching goal of a capable European defence industrial
base. Another factor contributing to the RNLAF’s outstanding
performance has been the reduction of certain key assets.
The numbers of available F-16 aircraft, Patriot batteries, and
Apache combat helicopters have been deliberately kept low or reduced
to improve deployability of the available systems. Moreover,
certain systems were completely phased out. Amongst the
major GBAD systems from the Cold War era, only the Patriot has
remained in service; this system also has a TBMD capability and
is thus particularly suited for the current threat spectrum. Through
this constant focus upon the requirements of deployed operations,
the RNLAF has effectively played in the league of the major European
air forces.
Notes
1. Lt Gen Dick L. Berlijn, commander in chief, RNLAF, “The Significance
and Evolution of Air Power: The Royal Netherlands Air Force: One Team, One
Mission,” Military Technology, no. 6 (2003): 50.
2. IISS, The Military Balance 2010 (Abingdon, Oxfordshire: published by
Routledge for the IISS, February 2010), 149.
3. John Olsen, “Effects-Based Targeting through Pre-Attack Analysis,” in
RNLAF Air Power Symposium, 19 November 2003, 52.
4. MOD, Netherlands, Defence White Paper 1991: The Netherlands Armed
Forces in a Changing World, abridged version (The Hague: MOD, 1991), 6, 18.
5. MOD, Netherlands, Defence Priorities Review, abridged version (The
Hague: MOD, 1993), 4.
6. Ibid., 5.