Straaljager Exercises: An Insight into Vliegbasis Leeuwarden's Tactical Training

Straaljager Training In Focus

If you looked at the flight radars on Friday, you might have thought an F-16 pilot was flying under the influence. However, nothing could be further from the truth. This flight is part of an international exercise.

The chaotic lines on the flight radar were created by a Belgian straaljager. The aircraft took off from the military base in Leeuwarden, looped around Drenthe, and even formed a cloverleaf on the map, as reported by RTV Drenthe.

Training Wapeninstructeurs Effectively

According to the Ministry of Defence, 29 trainees from the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium are currently engaged in the second part of their wapeninstructeur training. Over the past months, they have been training in Norway. Starting this week, they will train for eight weeks at and from Vliegbasis Leeuwarden. Multiple training flights will occur over the North Sea and in military airspace over northern Netherlands.

The exercises only take place on weekdays between 8:00 AM and 4:45 PM.

• Enhancing Tactically Leadership: The training program incorporates various military disciplines, including pilots, sensor operators, and intelligence officers.
• The goal is to increase tactical leadership and to improve how support services handle different weapon systems.

Following the eight weeks of exercises, a final exercise will take place starting on October 28 at Vliegbasis Leeuwarden, which will include training above Friesland and other northern provinces. During this period, straaljagers may conduct flights in the evenings as well.