National Experiences - British Commission for Military History

222 ai r p o w e r in 20 t H Ce n t u ry do C t r i n e s a n d em p l o y m e n t - nat i o n a l ex p e r i e n C e s
“Lean and mean” became the new creed and motto. In November 1991, the commands,
which had performed an intermediary function at the executive level between
the air force staff and the units, were disbanded, which resulted in a more horizontal
organisational structure of the RNLAF. In terms of its personnel complement, the
RNLAF was at its zenith in 1967, with almost 28,000 personnel (regular, reserve,
conscript and civilian personnel). Around 1990, the complement had been reduced to
approximately 20,000 personnel. In the mid-1990s, the government decided to suspend
conscription and the last air force conscript personnel left the Service in 1996.
From that time onwards, the ranks of the armed forces were to be filled exclusively
by volunteer personnel. Personnel reductions were to be a recurrent phenomenon in
the following years. In 2010, the total air force personnel complement numbered just
under 9,000 positions.
After 1990, the number of air force elements was to be reduced strongly. This did not
stop at the complete withdrawal of the Guided Missile Groups from Germany that was
mentioned earlier in this article. The RNLAF also concentrated and merged virtually
all its depots, workshops, (pilot) training and logistic support elements at Woensdrecht
Air Base. Moreover, four air bases, Ypenburg, Deelen, Twenthe and Soesterberg had to
close, in that order. By 2011, the striking power of the RNLAF has been concentrated
at no more than five locations, namely: the fighter aircraft at Leeuwarden and Volkel
Air Bases, the air transport fleet at Eindhoven Air Base, the helicopter fleet at Gilze-
Rijen Air Base and the Guided Missile Group at De Peel Air Base.
In addition to the Guided Missile Groups, it was the fighter aircraft in particular
that were faced with substantial reductions. The initial air fleet of 213 F-16s was
gradually reduced by more than half, which meant the disbandment of various fighter
aircraft squadrons. Between 1992 and 2003, however, the F-16 fleet underwent a
comprehensive mid-life update (MLU) programme, which resulted in an extension
of the aircraft’s operational life. This international programme included an avionics
upgrade, which significantly expanded the deployment possibilities of the F-16,
especially at night and in poor weather conditions. Under the MLU programme, 139
F-16s were fitted with new central on-board computers, better radars, an Advanced
Identification Friend or Foe system, improved assets in the field of electronic warfare
and improved armament. In 2011 the goverment decided to a further reduction of the
F-16 fleet to a total number of 68 aircrafts. In the guided missile pillar, following in
the tracks of the Nike, the Hawk was gradually taken out of the arsenal from 2005.
The mobile Patriot system underwent a number of upgrades which made it better
suited to engage ballistic missiles.
As mentioned before, after the Cold War, greater emphasis was placed on air
transport and the helicopter fleet. From 1994, the fixed-wing air transport fleet was
transformed completely. While the twelve Fokker F-27s were being phased out, the
RNLAF was taking into service a mixture of light and (medium-) heavy transport
aircraft. In the second half of the 1990s, the air transport fleet consisted of two KDC-
10s, two C-130s, four Fokker 60s, two Fokker 50s and one Gulfstream IV business
jet. In the years to follow, even greater emphasis was placed on the heavier aircraft: