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05/20/2015: After completing his training at Eglin Air Force Base, Squadron Leader Andrew Jackson, of the Royal Australian Air Force, flew an Australian F-35 for the first time at Luke Air Force Base.
Squadron Leader Jackson recently joined the team of instructor pilots training students on the fifth generation stealth fighter at Luke.
According to a story by Senior Airman Grace Lee from the 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs:
Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader Andrew Jackson, the first F-35 Senior National Representative to Luke, made history today flying the first RAAF F-35A Lightning II sortie at Luke Air Force Base.
While the completion of the sortie represents a milestone for the RAAF, for Jackson, it’s also about building his experience and competence in the F-35 over the short term.
“My focus is on representing the RAAF as a valuable partner in the F-35 enterprise,” Jackson said.
“Hopefully I can contribute in some way to the work that’s already taken place to help ensure a smooth transition from the A-18 to the F-35A.
It’s very exciting to finally be at Luke with the 61st Fighter Squadron and to get to fly an RAAF F-35A.
Whilst I’m told that all the F-35s are the same, it’s awesome to finally go flying in a jet that has ‘Skippy’ painted on the side.”
With the sortie completed, RAAF personnel can forge ahead and advance in their mission at Luke.
“This marks a major milestone for partner operations here at Luke, as the next phase of operations,” said Squadron Leader Nathan Draper, 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit participant maintenance liaison officer.
“We have been on the ground supporting the mission with our jets and now one of our instructor pilots will also contribute to this team in one of our aircraft.”
The RAAF’s future goals include not only helping train future F-35 pilots and gaining experience in flying it but understanding what goes into maintaining the jet. “The future is promising with the F-35,” Draper said.
“With each new update to the ground based support systems comes enhanced capability and supportability features.
We will continue to define and refine the baseline configuration and move toward initial operating capability for each of the partners and services.”
With the anticipated sortie accomplished Jackson is glad to be at Luke. “We’re looking forward to training at Luke for a number of reasons–it’s been a long way to move with my family, but the phenomenal hospitality and generosity afforded to us by both the base and local community has made this move easy,” Jackson said.
“Combine that with the amazing weather, airspace and proud history of partner training at Luke and you have an unbeatable combination – There’s nowhere that myself and the other Australian pilots would rather be training on the F-35A, than Luke Air Force Base.”
2015-05-17 At the Copenhagen Airpower Symposium on April 17, 2015, Group Captain Paul Godfrey, OBE, Royal Air Force, focused on the transformation of the Royal Air Force. Group Captain Paul Godfrey, OBE has extensive experience of a range of combat aircraft through Harrier, F-16 and Typhoon.
As a Harrier weapons instructor, he was the first non-US national to fly the F-16 CJ operationally in the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) role while on exchange with the USAF and has spent the last 10 years in the Typhoon program with two flying tours including 4th/5th generation fighter training with the F-22.
After his current tour working on the Initial Operating Capability of the UK F-35B, he will become Station Commander RAF Lossiemouth, where three Typhoon squadrons are now located.
With his range of combat air experience, Godfrey is well positioned to understand the next generation capability which 5th generation aircraft can provide for the Royal Navy (RN) and RAF and as such entitled his presentation as “F-35 as a Catalyst for Change.”
It is clear that the RAF is suffering from the same fiscal challenges which translate into reduced numbers which Gary Schaub, Jr. highlighted in his introduction to the conference.
But what is not widely realized that the RAF has been able to put a template for transformation together, which can allow it to play an effective joint and coalition role.
At the heart of the RAF approach is necking down from a larger type model series of aircraft to a smaller set of multi-mission aircraft which can provide for a more effective integrated role.
The sustainable reach part of the RAF is seeing the introduction of the new A330MRTT tanker, and the introduction of the A400M along with the C-17.
In terms of fighter aircraft, the RAF is undergoing a double transition with the Typhoon via weaponization and combat system upgrades taking on the Tornado roles along with the introduction of the F-35B aboard the new carrier.
This means that not only are the dynamics of different generations of aircraft – Typhoon with F-35 — to drive change but from the outset the RAF is working new approaches for the integration of sea-based and land-based air in a variety of new scalable, modular combinations under the influence of innovative C2 solution sets.
And they will be doing this with among others, the USMC, which is of course focused on pathways to do much the same thing as the RAF envisages with the introduction of the F-35B into the RAF.
Group Captain Godfrey highlighted throughout his presentation that the capabilities of the F-35 to work with other coalition F-35s via the “global fleet” of fifth generation aircraft was a significant enhancer of the combat effectiveness of the RAF itself.
Clearly, the aperture of collaboration is opening up for the RAF to work with Air Forces like the Norwegian and the Dutch who will fly F-35s as their core combat aircraft.
And already, these F-35 partners are broadening discussions with one another about how to deliver collaborative convergent combat capabilities in key areas of strategic interest.
Prior to the F-35, the Norwegians and the Dutch flew F-16s which the RAF did not, which limited the level of collaboration among these Air Forces. Now the F-35 as a platform as well as a way to rethink and redesign combat innovations is a catalyst for change, to use Group Captain Godfrey’s phrase.
And with the Italian Air Force as well as the RAF working the double transition of modernized Tyhoons along with the introduction of F-35s (in the case of the IAF this includes both F-35As and F-35Bs along with the Italian Navy F-35Bs aboard their carriers as well), the RAF can work effectively with a core European ally in shaping new approaches to integrated air operations as well.
An important theme of his presentation was that it was crucial for the RAF to prepare for the F-35 from the standpoint of recognizing its strategic impact, rather than simply thinking of it as a replacement aircraft. The RAF did NOT do this with regard to the Eurofighter, which has delayed the ability of the RAF to get maximum utility from the introduction of that aircraft.
Part of the problem was the lack of certainty about the numbers of the aircraft and their introduction into service, but with the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, there was a clear commitment to Eurofighter numbers and to the new missiles as well, Brimstone, Storm Shadow and Meteor.
Godfrey emphasized that the Eurofighter entered the fleet as a fourth generation aircraft with a third generation operational mentality and this meant that it was not really appreciated in terms of the scope of its new capabilities
“There was no visionary approach to the Typhoon entering service which meant that only an incremental approach was taken, rather than thinking through what significant changes could drive the evolution of the airfleet from leveraging the new aircraft.”
Godrey argued that this did not need to happen with the coming of the F-35.
Group Captain Paul Godfrey addressing the Copenhagen Airpower Symposium, April 17, 2015. Credit: SLD
In part this can be driven by the convergence of training and operating the new aircraft three years prior to the aircraft becoming operational aboard the new carrier
“We can use these three years, to prepare the ship for the aircraft, and the aircraft for enabling new approaches as well to operations.”
An important area where the F-35 was a catalyst for change is in the rethinking of training, and training not just for the F-35 but for the Typhoon as well as the rest of the operational fleet.
Notably, there was an expansion of simulation and synthetic training as well as expanding the battlespace within which training would take place.
Over time, live virtual constructive training would be put in place correlated with the impacts and effects of the F-35, but, of course, this would affect the entire fleet and its training and operations.
Group Captain Godrey concluded his presentation this way:
Although we’re flying the airplane along with the US Marine Corp, and they are declaring their initial operating capability this year, in the UK we’re not doing so for another three years.
This allows us to look at how we transform the way that we’re going to do things, notably with the new carrier.
However you characterize fifth gen, the F-35 definitely requires a different approach to realize its benefits. And the F35 definitely has been the catalyst for change in the UK.
05/14/2015: Lt. Col. Christine Mau completed her first training flight in the F-35 Lightning II at Eglin Air Force Base, making her the first female F-35 pilot.
The first female F-35 fighter jet pilot took to the skies Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Christine Mau completed her first training flight at the Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, becoming the 88th aviator to fly the billion-dollar Lightening II jet, the Air Force said.
The flight marked a milestone for women in the armed forces and a personal one for Mau, who had trained in 14 virtual missions in a simulator.
“It wasn’t until I was taxing to the runway that it really struck me that I was on my own in the jet,” Mau said, according to a press release. “It felt great to get airborne. The jet flies like a dream.”
She is the first woman in the F-35 program, but women have been flying in the Air Force for over 20 years, the Department of Defense said.
Mau has been flying since at least 2011, when she was deployed to Afghanistan and completed the first ever all-female combat flight mission.
The deputy commander for the 33rd Fighter Wing reportedly joked that the only difference between her and male pilots was the size of her uniform and face mask.
“Flying is a great equalizer,” Mau said. “The plane doesn’t know or care about your gender as a pilot, nor do the ground troops who need your support. You just have to perform.”
Mau said she had to adjust to the high-tech F-35 helmet, which allows pilots to effectively see through the plane through its video display.
The F-35 is due to roll out in about a year after testing, and test pilots play a key role in ensuring it’s ready in time, Col. Todd Canterbury said.
“We need to attract the most innovative and skillful Airmen possible for one reason — it makes us more effective,” Canterbury said, according to the press release. “Performance is key, and it’s the standard we hold all of our Airmen to in the Air Force.”
05/15/2015: F-35B pilots, Maj. Aric Liberman (05 jet) and Capt. Brian Hansell (01 jet), with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., perform short take off and vertical landings as part of required flying field carrier landing practices (FCLP) at the stations auxiliary landing field, Wednesday, May 6, 2015.
The landing field simulates the flight deck of an aircraft carrier to prepare pilots for landing and taking off at sea.
With the Russian approach to Ukraine as defining a threat envelope, the question of Baltic defense has become a central one for NATO. And deterrence rests not simply on having exercises and declarations but a credible strategy to defeat the Russians if they decided to probe, push and dismember the Baltic republics.
How can NATO best shape a credible defense strategy which meets the realistic performance of the key stakeholders in defense and security in Northern Europe?
It is no good talking in general deterrence terms; or simply having periodic exercises. The exercises need to be part of shaping a realistic engagement and defense strategy.
As one Russian source has put it with regard to characterizing with disdain NATO exercises:
The West keeps accusing Russia of aggression towards neighboring countries and this is largely bluff in order to make it appear strong, Alexander Mercouris, international affairs expert, told RT.
He suggests it’s a dangerous game because it does bring NATO troops very close to Russian borders.
RT: We’re seeing this massive build-up in the Baltic states, while another NATO member, Norway, is also holding massive military exercises on Russia’s borders.Is the US-led bloc preparing for war?
Alexander Mercouris: No I doubt they are preparing for war, I doubt anybody seriously contemplates war with Russia which is a nuclear power, and it will be a suicidal idea. What I think we are seeing is a show force basically to conceal the fact that Western policy over Ukraine is falling apart, and all sorts of Western politicians and political leaders who made a very strong pitch on Ukraine now find that they have to do something to show that they are still a force to be counted on.
RT: How justified are these claims by some Western officials that Russia could be preparing to test NATO’s resolve by invading a member country?
AM: There is no justification for that whatsoever. Russia has never attacked a NATO-state. It didn’t do so when it was a part of the Soviet Union. There is no threat from Russia to do so, and this whole thing is completely illusory. I’m absolutely sure that everybody in the government, in the West, in NATO knows that very well.
And providing token forces as symbols of intent are not enough as well.
When the secret cables about NATO planning for Baltic and Polish defense were released in the WikiLeaks scandal, a Polish source characterized what he thought of symbolic measures:
Earlier this year the US started rotating US army Patriot missiles into Poland in a move that Warsaw celebrates publicly as boosting Polish air defenses and demonstrating American commitment to Poland’s security.
But the secret cables expose the Patriots’ value as purely symbolic. The Patriot battery, deployed on a rotating basis at Morag in north-eastern Poland, 40 miles from the border with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, is purely for training purposes, and is neither operational nor armed with missiles.
The Russians with the advantage of having significant Russian minorities in the Baltics can play a probing game similar to Ukraine if they deem this necessary or useful.
The probing certainly is going on.
As a piece written by David Blair and published in the Daily Telegraph on February 19, 2015 put it:
The trap was laid with meticulous precision. The target was a senior officer in Estonia’s version of MI5 and the bait was supposedly vital information about organized crime. Eston Kohver was lured to a meeting in a lonely woodland at 9am on a Friday.
Lest the spy be thought foolish or naive, he went to the assignation with a posse of bodyguards.
Yet his erstwhile contact was accompanied by an armed snatch squad from Russia’s FSB intelligence service.
Mr Kohver’s escort was swiftly neutralized with stun grenades; for good measure, their communications were also jammed.
Then the spy was spirited at gunpoint across the Russian border five miles away.
This brazen abduction of an intelligence officer from his homeland took place on September 5 last year, only two days after President Barack Obama had visited Estonia to offer reassurance about America’s commitment to its security.
Mr Kohver was later paraded on Russian television and charged with subverting the very state that had carried out his kidnapping.
Deterrence is not just about arming and occupying the Baltic states in ADVANCE of the Russians doing something and given the geography such actions seem unlikely at best.
As a landpower with significant Baltic sea assets, it is difficult to imagine the Russians providing a long period of warning for the USAF to deliver significant US Army forces to the Baltic states to deter Russian attack. This is not a US Army led operation in any real sense.
And building up outside forces on the ground in the Baltics takes time and could set off Russian actions which one might well wish not to see happen.
This latter point is crucial to Balts as well who would not like to be viewed by the Russians as an armed camp on their borders in times of crisis, and not only the Russians living in Russia, but those in the Baltic republics themselves.
Source: Daily Telegraph
Credible defense starts with what NATO can ask of the Baltic states themselves.
In the 1980s, there was a movement in Western Europe which called for “defensive defense,” which clearly applies to the Balts.
Greater cooperation among the three states, and shaping convergence of systems so that resupply can be facilitated is a good baseline.
Add to that deployments of defensive missile systems designed for short to mid-range operations, and the ground work would be created for a stronger DEFENSIVE capability which would slow any Russian advance down and facilitate the kind of air and naval intervention by NATO which would mesh very nicely with the defensive capabilities of the Baltic states.
In a piece by Thomas Theiner called “Peace is Over for the Baltic States,” he looks at what kinds of actions by the Baltic states make sense in terms of collaborative defense within the bounds of realistic expectations.
The key is not simply to wait for NATO’s so-called “rapid reaction force” to show up in time to view the Russian forces occupying the Baltic states.
Most importantly, the three Baltic nations need a modern medium range air-defense system and tanks.
The air-defense systems currently in service, namely RBS-70, Mistral, Stinger and Grom man portable air defense systems (MANPADS) , do not reach higher than 4-5km and have a range of just 6-8 km.
The three Baltic nations do not need a high-end long-range system like the SAMP/T or the MIM-104 Patriot.
What the core Nordic states (Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland) can do is create a more integrated air and naval defense.
If the Russians believed that the Nordics most affected by a Baltic action could trigger what other NATO nations can do, there is little incentive for them to do so.
This means leveraging the Baltic Air Patrol to shape a Northern region wide integrated air operations capability that the US, France, Germany and the UK can work with and plug into rapidly.
It is about modular, scalable force with significant reachback that would kill a Russian force in its tracks, and be so viewed from the outset by the Russians.
And because it is not based in the Baltics, but the air controllers could well be, it is part of the overall defensive defense approach.
Naval forces are crucial as well, not only to deal with Russian naval forces, but to support the Baltic operation as well. Modern amphibious forces are among the most useful assets to provide engagement capabilities, ranging from resupply, to air operations, to insertion forces at key choke points.
By not being based on Baltic territory, these forces are part of the overall defensive defense approach, and not credibly part of a forward deployed dagger at the heart of Russia argument that the Russian leadership will try to use if significant NATO forces were to be forward deployed upon Baltic territory itself.
Shaping an effective defensive template, leveraging collaborative Baltic efforts, with enhanced integrated air and naval forces will only get better as Western naval and air transformation occurs in the period ahead.
The Finnish ship FNS Pohjama (01), right, sails next to the Royal Danish Navy ship HDMS Absalon (L16) during exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2013. Navy Media Content Services, 6/11/13.
There are a number of key developments underway which can reinforce such a template.The first is the Dane’s acquiring the missiles to go with the sensors aboard their frigates and to position their frigates to provide area wide defensive capabilities which can be leveraged in the crisis.
The second is the acquisition of the F-35 by key states in the region whose integrated fleet can lay down a sensor grid with kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities, which can operate rapidly over the Baltic states by simply extending the airpower integration already envisaged in the defense of the region.
The Norwegians, the Dutch, and possibly the Danes and the Finns will all have F-35s and a completely integrated force which can rapidly be inserted without waiting for slower paced forces has to be taken seriously by Russia. There is no time gap within which the Russians can wedge their forces, for Norway and Denmark are not likely to stand by and watch the Russians do what they want in the Baltics. With the integrated F-35 fleet, they would need to wait on slower paced NATO deliberations to deploy significant force useable immediately in Baltic defenses.
The third is the coming UK carrier, which can provide a local core intervention capability to plug into the F-35 forces in the region and to add amphibious assault capability.
The fourth is that the USN-USMC team coming with F-35B and Osprey enabled assault forces can plug in rapidly as well.
The fifth is the evolving integration of air and naval systems. The long reach of Aegis enabled by F-35/Aegis integration can add a significant offensive/defensive capability to any reinforcement force, and the Norwegians are a local force that will have such a capability.
By leveraging current capabilities and reshaping the template for Baltic defense, the coming modernization efforts will only enhance the viability of the template and significantly enhance credible deterrence, rather than doing what RT referred to scornfully as “US troops drills in Baltic states is more a political than military show.”
A key advantage of the approach is that it is led by the Nordics and gets away from the Russian game of making this always about the US and the “US-led” Alliance.
Spanish Typhoon on the platform in winter conditions during their Baltic Air Policing mission. Photo courtesy of: Spanish Air Force.
Putin and his ilk can play this game, but European led capabilities are crucial to reshaping Russian expectations about how non-Americans view their aggression as well.
And what might be the implications of not having an effective defense of the Baltic states on the US and NATO?
In a piece published by Yoel Sano Head of Political Risk, BMI Research, the implications are projected as follows:
Russia’s triumph over the most powerful military alliance in the world could prompt several Eastern European countries in the EU to reach some sort of accommodation with Moscow.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan would probably accept Moscow’s hegemony in Eurasia. A victorious Kremlin could then press the US and EU for some sort of formal division of Europe into rival spheres of influence.
Europe would be set for a multi-decade new Cold War, although this would not be global in scope, because Europe’s economic importance has declined substantially since the 1980s. Also, there would be no ideological dimension to the new struggle.
In Russia, the president would bask in the success of re-establishing control of the Baltic republics, and patriotic fervour would surge, but the economy would be devastated by major Western sanctions. Given rising economic pressures, the president could steer Russia towards formal authoritarianism.
Elsewhere, the unreliability of collective security treaties would encourage Japan and South Korea to bolster their defences against China and North Korea respectively, probably by developing their own nuclear arsenals. Similar trends would play out in the Middle East, where Saudi Arabia and several of its neighbours fear the consequences of a nuclear Iran.
05/04/2015: Brigadier General Scott Pleus, 56th Fighter Wing commander, Flies first Wing’s Training Sortie
According to a story published on 3/19/15 by the 56th Fighter Wing:
The 56th Fighter Wing officially began training new F-35 pilots today when the first student, Brigadier General Scott Pleus, 56th Fighter Wing commander, flew the wing’s first training sortie.
Luke has a long and storied history of training fighter pilots. Advanced flight training in the AT-6 began at Luke in 1941 and by 1944 pilots at Luke had achieved one million hours of flying time.
That legacy will continue with the F-35, an unprecedented fifth generation fighter combining stealth technology with fighter speed and agility, fully integrated sensors and network enabled operations, and state-of-the-art avionics.
Luke’s operators and maintainers will continue to generate local F-35 sorties.
The 56th FW will continue to build the pilot and maintainer cadre and complete training systems preparations for the start of formal training with our international partners in May.
On Jan. 23 Pleus flew his last sortie in an F-16 Fighting Falcon.
It represented a personal milestone for Pleus and also a step forward for the Airmen at Luke in realizing its new mission — training the world’s greatest F-35 and F-16 fighter pilots.
The first official class of student pilots is scheduled to begin at the Academic Training Center, a 145,000-square-foot two story state-of-the-art training center, May 4.
Pleus will complete his training and join the cadre of instructor pilots training that first class of students. The 61st Fighter Squadron is the first squadron in the 56th Fighter Wing scheduled to accomplish F-35 flying training for future F-35 instructor, operational and test pilots.
It will train partner nation and follow-on U.S. Air Force pilots thereafter. “
Just over a year ago, the squadron moved into a new building, stood up new facilities and developed processes required for operating a fighter squadron and integrating into the 56th Fighter Wing,” said Lt Col Michael Ebner, 61st Fighter Squadron commander.
“Our 23 instructor pilots are honing instructional skills while exercising all the aircraft capabilities and our maintenance professionals continue to refine training processes and convert maintainers from all over the Air Force into F-35 experts.”
Luke’s F-35 program hit the ground running when the first F-35 arrived at Luke March 10, 2014 and in the coming weeks will reach the 1,000th F-35 sortie milestone.
Pleus’s very first F-16 flight was in a 61st Fighter Squadron jet assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing, when the wing was assigned to MacDill, Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. Ironically, his first F-35 flight is in a 61st Fighter Squadron jet assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing here at Luke.
“This is another step forward for Luke, the 56th Fighter Wing, and our Air Force,” Pleus said.
“The F-35 is going to be the backbone of the Air Force’s fighter fleet for decades to come and Luke will play a vital role in producing the world’s greatest, most lethal F-35 pilots.
It’s important that I complete my flying training here with our Airmen, in our airspace, so I could help refine and validate our program meeting the needs of our Air Force.
With IOC scheduled to occur late next year, it’s important that we get our training program and process dialed in and as efficient and refined as our F-16 training program is so we can help meet the Air Force’s scheduled goal.”
Pleus also reflected on the years of work that have gone into the F-35 program and putting Luke in position to begin training in May.
“We’re about to fly our one thousandth F-35 sortie at Luke and my flight today was just one of those.
Getting to this point hasn’t just been accomplished over the past few months.
It’s really been done over the last few years. Lots of amazing Airmen who have already departed from Luke are the reason we are where we are with the F-35 program.
What they did back then to set the base up is the reason why we will be so successful training the world’s greatest F-35 pilots.
I’ve got to say that I’m absolutely honored to fly the F-35. But the fact that I got to have my first flight again in the 61st Fighter Squadron really brings this full circle for me.” Pleus said.
There are 20 F-35s assigned at Luke, two of which belong to the Royal Australian Air Force, an F-35 pilot training, partner nation.
2015-04-29 The Royal Dutch Air Force (RNLAF) has selected the F-35 as its next generation aircraft.
Indeed, the Norwegians and the Dutch are both planning to be an all-fifth generation fleet.
Others might join them in Europe as well in this process.
The Italian and the UK Air Forces will fly a mixed fleet of Typhoons and F-35s are they are working cross integration approaches, with the RAF notably interested in sea- and air-based aircraft integration in operations.
Initial training for all F-35A users — such as Italy and the Netherlands — will be conducted with the USAF at Luke AFB, and currently Dutch F-35s are located at Edwards AFB and are part of the overall roll out of the F-35A into the fleet.
At the Centre for Military Studies-Williams Foundation Airpower Symposium held in Copenhagen on April 17, 2015, Air Commodore Dré Kraak, from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, discussed the way ahead with regard to training for the Dutch Air Force and highlighted an important evolving coalition relationship with Italy.
Not only will Italy build the bulk of the Dutch F-35s, but they are also emerging as a key partner in possible training solutions as well.
Air Commodore Dré Kraak, Project Manager European Aircrew Training Center, Royal Netherlands Air Force, addressing the Copenhagen Airpower Conference. Credit: SLD
And the Air Commodore went out of his way to praise the Italians, who in his words, “have seen dramatic progress in their aerospace production capabilities over the past twenty years.”
He started his presentation by highlighting that the Dutch selection of the F-35 was a no brainer.
It was by far the best aircraft in the competition.
Without any doubt, without any doubt operationally, the F35 is the best airplane ever.
And anybody that chooses something else– it’s probably a political choice and not a decision being made by a fighter pilot.
There’s no fighter pilot in the Dutch Air Force that does not think that the F35 is the best aircraft in the world at this moment.
The globality of the F-35 is important as well to the RNLAF.
“We want a plane that can be maintained worldwide as we don’t know where our next operation will be.”
Clearly, the Dutch intend to operate their F-35s in a coalition and Air Commodore Dré Kraak emphasized that like the F-16, the F-35 has coalition enablement built in.
The first Dutch F-35s will start arriving in 2019 and the RNLAF is working out how to operate differently as these planes start arriving and operating.
Logistics is part of this and they will build logistics support structures that will be part of the global supply system for the airplane.
But in a vein similar to that of John Blackburn, Kraak highlighted the need for rethinking and innovation within the Dutch Air Force to leverage the F-35.
The Chief of the Dutch Air Force talks about Air Force 3.0 as the need to reshape our approaches and our thinking about how to operate in the future.
We are a small Air Force: 7500 people and 65 fighter pilots.
Obviously, we have to innovate to get best value out of this force with our initial 37 F-35s.
Maj. Laurens Vijge, a Royal Netherlands Air Force pilot, dresses in his life support equipment prior to his first flight in the F-35A Lightning II Dec. 18, 2013 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Vijge became the first RNLAF pilot to fly the joint strike fighter and the flight marks the first sortie for the RNLAF here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr)
The training side of the picture is rooted in part in the desire to have F-35s involved in operations and not being tagged for training.
What a lot of people don’t understand is that if I have less aircraft I can train less pilots.
And it’s not about the aircraft.
It’s about how many pilots can I use, how many pilots can I get trained.
So, if I have less F35s, I need to find an alternative to make sure that I can train those 65 combat ready pilots good enough.
And this leads to either the acquisition of new trainer aircraft or participating in a joint training program.
According to the Air Commodore:
I’m looking very much to an aircraft that can be very easily used next to an F35; not exactly the F35 cockpit, but for instance the M-346 might be a good choice for the training missions.
Because the USAF will not have a new trainer until the next decade, and its cost undetermined, the Dutch need to look elsewhere.
The program is simply too late for their needs.
He visited Italy last year with the Dutch Chief of Staff and they were very impressed with the M-346.
They are also looking at civilian business training solutions, which could use this airplane as well.
He highlighted cost as a key concern:
It’s a cheap airplane for training. It’s a very cheap airplane.
Right now it is about 8,000 to 9.000 Euros per hour that includes everything
He is also looking for European-wide solutions and has spoken with a number of European Air Forces about cooperative training possibilities.
Notably, he is looking to the possibility of building on the success of the common European Air Transport Command to come up with a European Aircrew Training Approach to share costs and experiences in shaping a way ahead.
In a bio through 2014, Air Commodore Dré Kraak’s background was described as follows:
Air Commodore Kraak started at the Military Academy in the Netherlands in 1980.
He became a fighter pilot in 1984.
Up through 2005 he accumulated a total of 2500 flying hours on the F-16 as a weapons- and flight instructor.
He served as an F-16 flight commander for several years at 311 Squadron and 323 Top Gun Weapons School.
He served there as the commander of the Dutch Weapons Instructor School (The Dutch Top Gun).
After this Air Commodore Kraak was employed at the RNLAF HQ at the F-16 Operational requirements section, responsible for the purchase of F-16 weapons.
He attended the Advanced Staff College in 1996, after which he was appointed as Commander of the RNLAF F-16 Detachment in Italy for operations over Bosnia in the rank of Lt. Col.
From June 1997 until March 2000 Air Commodore Kraak was the Squadron Commander of the 306 Tactical Fighter & Reconnaissance Squadron.
In the summer of 1999 he served as Chief of the Planning Cell at the CAOC in Vicenza (Italy) during the Kosovo war.
In April 2000 Air Commodore Kraak was promoted to Colonel and given the job as Chief of the Fighter Branch at the RNLAF HQ in The Hague.
He attended the NATO Defence College in Rome from Aug 2003 until feb 2004.
After this Air Commodore Kraak was appointed Chief of the Operational Requirements and Policy Branch in the Air Force HQ again.
In March 2005 he was appointed Commander of Soesterberg Airbase, the transport helicopter base in the Netherlands.
In this job he flew Chinook, Cougar and Alouette helicopters. In July 2007 Air Commodore Kraak was promoted to his present rank and installed as Deputy Director for Requirements at the Netherlands MOD.
During 2011 a major restructuring of the Dutch Armed Forces started in which Air Commodore Kraak got the job to reorganize the IT units in the MOD and to form a Joint IT Command.
Since May 2012 he also was appointed Deputy Commander and COO of the IT Command.
