According to the Ministry of Defence, the deployment was a Quick Reaction Alert following instructions from the Air Operations Control Station in Nieuw Milligen. The object was confirmed to be a drone, which later left the airspace and posed no direct threat.
Civilian air traffic experienced no disruption, and the F-35 aircraft returned safely to Volkel Air Base. The Quick Reaction Alert was activated at 10:20 this morning after the unidentified object appeared on radar.
Such deployments are not frequent, but the ministry noted that today’s event demonstrates the importance of rapid readiness. The F-35s remain on standby around the clock and can take off within minutes to intercept unidentified aircraft.
The Netherlands and Belgium alternate responsibility for the Quick Reaction Alert task for several months at a time. The system covers the airspace of the entire Benelux region, and the Netherlands has held the responsibility again since November.
Air combat controllers at the Air Operations Control Station in Nieuw Milligen direct the pilots from Dutch territory. They ensure aviation safety and maintain contact with the Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, NATO’s headquarters for airspace surveillance in northeastern Europe.
