Twelve Dutch F-35s and a small detachment of personnel deployed across the Atlantic to demonstrate NATO’s ability to project precision airpower quickly and effectively. Training covered advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground operations, including live-fire activity, low-level flying, electronic emitters and simulated friendly and opposing forces.
“The Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force Air Combat Command is training at Mountain Home to maintain readiness and capabilities on many aspects, such as precision strikes with live-fire weapons, counter-A2AD and IAMD missions,” said Dutch Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Smaal, 322nd Squadron Commander. “We crossed the Atlantic with twelve F-35s and a lean and mean detachment of personnel. To see outstanding performance on such a high level makes me a proud commander.”
Throughout the exercise, Dutch F-35s operated with U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles, F-35A Lightning IIs and C-17 Globemaster IIIs from the 62d Airlift Wing. Joint activity included refuelling, cargo drops and coordinated sorties that simulated airspace defence in a degraded communications environment.
The deployment gave Dutch crews access to wide training areas, electronic warfare emitters and realistic threat scenarios not available in Europe. The six-month planning effort highlighted NATO’s commitment to train as it fights, with collective, flexible and forward activity shaping operational readiness.
“Gunfighter Flag 25-02 is part of a larger wing exercise where we are rapidly deploying forces within 24 hours,” said U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Bradley Wills, 4th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron Commander, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. “This involves generating forces at home station, processing them through a deployment line, including medical evaluations and out-processing, placing them in crew rest, and then simulating a deployment to a forward operating location. From there, we generate sorties as soon as we arrive.”
“Operating out of unfamiliar locations helps us execute the mission without the comfort of our own squadrons.”
The exercise demonstrated NATO’s focus on maintaining ready, integrated forces able to respond at short notice. Gunfighter Flag reflected the defensive Alliance’s strength in unity and preparation, supporting the transatlantic link that underpins security across the Euro-Atlantic area.
