Aviation News – The Royal Netherlands Air Force has deployed to Japan for the first time, joining US and Japanese forces in a major F-35 exercise aimed at strengthening joint operations in the Indo-Pacific. The deployment sees the Netherlands contribute five F-35 fighter jets and an A330 tanker aircraft to the exercise, known as Kazaguruma Guardian, held at Misawa Air Base.

Aviation News – Four F-35 fighter jets of the Royal Netherlands Air Force are operating from Schiphol this week, conducting missions over the North Sea from a civil airport to strengthen national defense readiness. The exercise matters as it prepares the armed forces to remain operational if military bases are unavailable during a conflict. The two-day exercise involves four Dutch F-35s supported by a tanker and a transport aircraft, all operating from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

AviationNews – The Military Aviation Authority (MLA) of the Netherlands has officially released its Annual Plan 2026, outlining a strategic roadmap centered on the certification and integration of the Embraer C-390 Millennium and Airbus H225M Caracal. This comprehensive document serves as the regulatory backbone for the Dutch Ministry of Defence, ensuring that the nation's newest aerial assets meet stringent safety and operational standards.

Aviation News – The Royal Netherlands Air Force will officially transfer its most famous F-16, known as the ‘MiG-killer’, to the National Military Museum (NMM) on 27 January, preserving a defining aircraft in Dutch military history for public display. The aircraft, an F-16AM with registration J-063, will be handed over by commodore pilot Peter “Wobble” Tankink, who flew the jet during its historic combat mission in the Balkans.

AviationNews – Aviation enthusiasts across the Netherlands and Belgium are gathering along airbase fences to witness the final movements of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (KLu) F-16 fleet. These historic sorties mark the conclusion of the aircraft's service in the Low Countries as the remaining jets execute their last administrative flights before being formally transferred to Ukraine and international training centers.