Dutch F-35A fighters have deployed to the United States for their largest-ever training detachment, flying alongside US Air Force aircraft in a high-intensity exercise focused on integrated combat operations.
The Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force contingent has been operating from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, throughout March as part of Exercise Lightning Forge, working with the 388th Fighter Wing to rehearse missions in a contested environment using the Utah Test and Training Range.
The deployment has seen Dutch aircraft generate two waves of sorties per day over an extended period, using a mix of live and inert weapons, placing sustained pressure on both aircrew and maintenance teams to test whether they can maintain operational tempo over time.
Lt. Col. “Swinger,” commander of 313 Squadron, said the exercise is designed to prepare for complex operations, noting a “high emphasis on having the U.S. and Dutch F-35s fly in an integrated fashion,” with joint planning, execution and debriefing throughout.
A key element of the training is the use of the US range infrastructure, which provides more advanced threat simulation than is available in the Netherlands, allowing pilots to operate the F-35 against realistic air defence scenarios and refine tactics under pressure.
The exercise is also being used to bring less-experienced pilots up to operational standard, with the intensity and scale of activity described as a steep learning curve intended to build confidence and readiness for potential deployment.
