Equipment of the Royal Netherlands Air Force

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This page lists the equipment of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force.

Detailed list of aeroplanes

Model Variant Image Origin Type Quantity Notes
Combat aircraft
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II F-35A  United States Swing role stealth fighter 38
(+12)

[1]

 [2]
Successor of the F-16AM.
  • 37 approved in 2013[3]
  • 15 ordered in 2018[4]
  • 6 ordered in 2022[5]

Deliveries: first in October 2019.[6]
Note: 8 are used as trainers, and are in the trainer section.

Transport
Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules C-130H  United States Tactical transport aircraft 2

[1]

 [7]
2 C-130H30 ordered in 1993, 2 C-130H ordered in 2004.[7]
To be replaced by the Embraer C-390.
C-130H30 2

[1]

Embraer C-390 Millenium —  Brazil Tactical transport aircraft 0
(+5 on order)

[1]

 [8][9][10]
The deliveries to start in 2027.
Rheinmetall to provide the simulators.[11]
Gulfstream G650 G650ER  United States VIP transport 1 [12]
Trainers
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II F-35A  United States Conversion trainer 8

[1]

 [1]
Operated in the USA for the training of the pilots.
Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer PC-7  Switzerland Basic training aircraft 13

[1]

 [13]
In service since 1989. To be replaced with the PC-7 MKX.
PC-7 MKX

0
(+8 on order)

[1]

 [14]

Selected in October 2024, purchased with 4 flight simulators in February 2025.[14]

Co-owned aeroplanes

Model Variant Operators Image Origin Type Quantity Notes
Aerial refueling
Airbus A330 MRTT
Multi-Role Tanker Transport		 A330-200 MRTT MMF [de]
Multinational MRTT Fleet

Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
GER
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden

 European Union Tanker / transport aircraft 9

(+ 3 on order)

 [15]
Based at the Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands.[16]
  • 2 ordered in July 2016 (first members Netherlands and Luxembourg)[17]
  • 5 ordered in September 2018 (Germany and Norway joined the programme)[18]
  • 1 ordered in February 2018 (Belgium joined the programme)[17]
  • 1 ordered in September 2020 (Luxembourg increases participation)[19]
  • 1 ordered in March 2023 (Belgium increases participation)[20]
  • 2 ordered in June 2025 (arrival of Sweden and Denmark in the programme)[21]

The first aircraft entered service in June 2020, the ninth in February 2025).

Transport
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III C-17A SAC
Strategic Airlift Capability

Bulgaria
Estonia
Finland
Hungary
Lithuania
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Romania
Slovenia
Sweden
United States

  United States Strategic transport aircraft 3

[22]

 [23][15]
Based at Pápa Air Base in Hungary.
Air surveillance
Boeing E-3 Sentry E-3A NAEW&CF programme
NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force

Belgium
Canada
Czech Republic
Denmark
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Turkey
Spain
United States

  United States AEW&C
Airborne early warning and control		 14

[22]

 [24]
Based at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany.
18 E-3 used initially, and to be replaced by the E-7 Wedgetail, of which 6 ordered in January 2024.[25][26]

Detailed list of helicopters

Model Variant Image Origin Type Quantity Notes
Combat helicopter
Boeing AH-64 Apache AH-64E  United States Attack helicopter 16
(+12 on order)

[1]

 [27]
The Netherlands purchased 30 AH-64D, and received the first in 1998.[28] It was modernised to the standard AH-64D Block III in 2012.[29]
2 AH-64D were lost.(1 in Afghanistan in 2004, 1 in Mali in 2015).[30]
28 of the AH-64D rebuilt to the standard AH-64E, contract in 2018, first delivered in 2022.[31]
Transport helicopters
CH-47 Chinook CH-47F MYII CAAS  United States Heavy lift helicopter 20

[1]

 [32]
CH-47 history in RNLASF:[32]
  • 13 CH-47D purchased in 1995. 2 of these lost in 2005, taken out of service between 2015 and 2023.
  • 6 CH-47F received between 2009 and 2013, and modernised to the latest standard (MYII CAAS).
  • 14 CH-47F MYII CAAS delivered between 2015 and 2023.
AS-532 Cougar AS-532U2  France Multirole helicopter 12

[1]

 [9]
17 ordered in 1993, received between 1996 and 1998.[33]
Their replacement is starting in 2028 with the purchase of 12 H225M Caracal.[9]
NHIndustries NH90 NH90 NFH

 France
 Germany
 Italy
 Netherlands		 Naval helicopter (including ASW) 19
(+3 ordered)

[1][34]

 [35]
Contract for 20 helicopters signed in June 2000, first delivered in April 2010.[36]
1 lost in July 2020.[37]
MLU scheduled in 2027.[36]
A need for additional NH90 NFH identified by the review of the defence capabilities.[38] 3 were ordered in December 2025.[34]
Special role helicopter
Airbus Helicopters H225M —  France Special operations helicopter 0
(+12 on order)

[1]

 [39]
The H225M was selected in June 2023, with 14 expected to be ordered.[9]
Order of 12 helicopter in November 2024.[40]

List of unmanned aerial vehicles

Model Variant Image Origin Type Role Quantity Notes
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper MQ-9A Block 5  United States MALE, fixed-wing UCAV
Medium-altitude long-endurance		 Surveillance and reconnaissance 4
(+4 on order)		 [41]
Four drones delivered in 2022.[42]
Four additional on order.[42]
At the moment unarmed, planned to be armed soon.

List of satellites

Model Variant Image Origin Type Role Quantity Notes
ICEYE SAR 25 cm resolution imaging  Finland Microsatellite, synthetic-aperture imaging radar Imaging surveillance satellite 1
(+ 3 on order)		 [43][44]
First satellite put in orbit in June 2025.[45]

Aircraft equipment

Aeroplanes equipment

Weapons for aeroplanes

Model Variant Image Origin Type Used with Quantity Notes
Air-to-air missiles
AIM-9 Sidewinder AIM-9M  United States Infrared homing, short range air-to-air missile F-35A Lightning II 0
(retired)		 [46]
290 purchase in 1990. Variant likely donated to Ukraine.[47]
AIM-9X Block II 409
AIM-9X Block II+ 43
AIM-120 AMRAAM

Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile

 AIM-120A  United States BVR air-to-air missile
Beyond visual range		 F-35A Lightning II 0
(retired)		 [54]
200 purchased in 1995. Variant likely donated to Ukraine.[54]
AIM-120 C7 68 [55]
  • 26 ordered in 2017[56]
  • 42 ordered in 2019[57]
AIM-120 C8 0
(232 potentially)		 Approved for sale in 2025.[58]
AIM-120D3 226 [59][60]
Missiles supplied by Raytheon, approved for sale in December 2024, order in July 2025.[61][62]
Strategic weapons
B61 nuclear bomb B61 Mod 12  United States Thermonuclear gravity bomb F-35A Lightning II 22

[63]

 [64][65]
Weapons under American control, operated by the RNAF.
Air-to-ground missiles
AGM-158 JASSM
Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile		 AGM-158B JASSM - ER
JASSM -Extended Range		  United States Land attack cruise missile
(externally mounted)		 F-35A Lightning II 0
(+120 on order)		 [66][67][68]
Contract signed with Lockheed Martin in July 2024.
AGM-88 HARM
High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile		 AGM-88G AARGM - ER
Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile - Extended Range		  United States Anti-radiation missile F-35A Lightning II 0
(+265 on order)		 [69][70][71]
Ordered from Orbital ATK.
Guided bombs
GBU-39 SDB
Small Diameter Bomb		 GBU-39B SDB I

 United States Guided bomb
250 lb (110 kg)		 F-35A Lightning II 853 Used with the former F-16, and used now with the F-35A. Mounted on a quad-bomb launcher rail for the bomb-bay.
  • 603 approved for purchase in 2010, and purchase the same year.[72][73][74]
  • 250 approved for purchase in 2017.[75][76]
Unguided bombs
Mark 82 —  United States Gravity bomb
500 lb (230 kg)		 F-35A Lightning II Unknown [77][78]
Used with GBU-10 Paveway II, GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-38 JDAM and GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II.
Mark 84 —  United States Gravity bomb
2,000 lb (910 kg)		 F-35A Lightning II Unknown [77][78]
Used with GBU-31 V1 JDAM.
BLU-109 —  United States Bunker buster bomb
2,000 lb (910 kg)		 F-35A Lightning II Unknown [77][78]
Used with GBU-31 V3 JDAM.
Bomb guidance kits
GBU-10 Paveway II —  United States Laser guidance kit F-35A Lightning II Unknown [77][78]
Warhead, Mark 82, 500 lb (230 kg) bomb.
Initially purchased for the F-16, but compatible with the F-35A.[79]
GBU-12 Paveway II —  United States Laser guidance kit F-35A Lightning II Unknown [77][80][78]
Warhead, Mark 82, 500 lb (230 kg) bomb.
Initially purchased for the F-16, but compatible with the F-35A.[79]
GBU-38 JDAM —  United States GPS guidance kit F-35A Lightning II Unknown [77][78]
Warhead, Mark 82, 500 lb (230 kg) bomb.

Initially purchased for the F-16, but compatible with the F-35A.[81]

GBU-49 - Enhanced Paveway II —  United States Precision guidance kit

Dual mode GPS / laser

 F-35A Lightning II 200 [82][55][78]
Warhead, Mark 82, 500 lb (230 kg) bomb.

Initially purchased for the F-16, but compatible with the F-35A.[83]

GBU-31 V1 JDAM GBU-31 V1  United States GPS guidance kit F-35A Lightning II Unknown [77][78]
Warhead, Mark 84, 2,000 lb (910 kg) bomb.
Initially purchased for the F-16, but compatible with the F-35A.[81]
GBU-31 V3 JDAM GBU-31 V3  United States GPS guidance kit F-35A Lightning II Unknown [77][78]
Warhead, BLU-109, 2,000 lb (910 kg) bomb.
Initially purchased for the F-16, but compatible with the F-35A.[81]
Cannons
GAU-22
(4 barrels variant of the GAU-12 Equalizer)		 GAU-22/A  United States Rotary cannon,
25×137 mm		 F-35A Lightning II 46 [84][55]
1 gun per F-35A in service.

Equipment for aeroplanes

Model Image Origin Type Used with Quantity Notes
Knight Aerospace - Advanced aeromedical evacuation system  United States
 Brazil
 Netherlands		 MEDEVAC, roll-on / roll-off modular system
Medical evacuation		 Embraer C-390 Millenium 5 [85]
Ordered in June 2025 with Austria (who ordered 4 systems).

Helicopters equipment

Model Variant Image Origin Type Used with Quantity Notes
Tactical / short range missiles
AGM-114 Hellfire II AGM-114K

 United States Air-to-ground missile AH-64E Apache 605 [86][87]
Up to 16 missiles, 4 mounts with a 4 missiles launcher system.[86]
605 missiles ordered in 1995 (USD $127 million).[88][89]
AGM-114R 350 [90]

This followed the request for 180 missiles by the Netherlands in 2013. An additional request for 70 missiles was approved in 2017.[94][95]

AGM-114R2 386 [96]
Order in February 2024.[97]
AGM-179 JAGM
Joint Air-to-Ground Missile		 AGM-179A  United States Air-to-surface missile AH-64E Apache 296 [98][99]
Ordered in June 2025.
Rockets
Hydra 70 —  United States Unguided rockers AH-64E Apache Unknown [86][87]
Up to 76 (4×19) ready-to-fire rockets, 4 × M261 launchers, one under each mount.
AGR-20 APKWS
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System		 WGU-59 APKWS-2  United States Laser guidance kit for unguided rockers AH-64E Apache 1,100 [86][87]
Canons
M230 Chain Gun —  United States Electrically driven autocannon AH-64E Apache 28 [106][107]
The Apache is equipped with 1,200 ready-to-fire rounds of the 30×113mm calibre.
Small arms
FN M3M / GAU-21 —  Belgium Door machine gun, 12.7×99mm NATO CH-47F Chinook

NH90 NFH

 Unknown [108]
  • CH-47F: 1 on each side, and one on the rear ramp[109]
  • NH-90: 1 on each side possible[110]
FN MAG —  Belgium Door machine gun, 7.62×51mm NATO AS532 U2 Cougar

CH-47F Chinook

NH90 NFH

 Unknown [111][108]
  • Cougar: 1 on the door side[112]
  • CH-47F: 1 on each side, and one on the rear ramp[109]
  • NH-90: 1 on each side possible[110]
Torpedoes
Mark 46 Mk 46 Mod 5  United States Antisubmarine lightweight torpedo NH90 NFH Unknown [110][113]
Up to 2 torpedoes can be mounted on the NH90 NFH.[110]
This torpedo is planned to be replaced at the end of the 2020s, and will replace it with the Mark 54.[114]
Mark 54 —  United States Antisubmarine lightweight torpedo NH90 NFH 0 [114]
Mark 54 torpedo will enter service on the NH90 after its MLU between 2028 and 2032.[114]

Radars

Model Image Origin Type Quantity Notes
Radar
Thales GM400α  France Mobile long-range radar system 1 [115]
Temporary solution (reserve unit) until both of the SMART-L radar stations are operational.
Thales SMART-L  Netherlands Ground radar station 1 [116]
1 operational (North), second planned (South)

Vehicles

Model Image Origin Type Quantity Notes
Armoured vehicle
Iveco Manticore  Italy
 Netherlands		 Infantry mobility vehicle, MRAP
Mine-resistant ambush protected		 94 94 in total for the Air Force:[117]
  • 26 AFSV (Air Force Security Vehicle)
  • HT (Hardtop)
  • PU (Pick-up)
  • CAST (Casualty transport)
Utility vehicles
Volkswagen Amarok  Germany Dog transport / Security personnel transport 8 [118]
Used at the Gilze-Rijen, Leeuwarden and Volkel air bases.
Logistics
Scania XT "Gryphus"
4×4 Low Operational 50 kN (5 tons)[119]		  Sweden Truck 123 [120]
Scania XT "Gryphus"
6×6 Low Operational 100 kN (10 tons)[119]
Scania XT "Gryphus"
8×8 High Operational 100 kN (10 tons)[119]
Scania XT "Gryphus"
6×6 Low Operational 150 kN (15 tons)[119]		 68 [120]
26 of these vehicles can be used for deicing the runways and taxiways.
Firefighting trucks
E-One Titan 8×8  United States Airport crash tender 25 [121]
Rosenbauer Panther 6×6  Austria
 Germany		 Airport crash tender 0
(+ 23 on order)		 [122]
26 ordered in February 2026, 23 for the air force.
Rosenbauer - Mercedes-Benz Atego 1529 —  Austria
 Germany		 Fire engine — [123][124]
Rosenbauer - Mercedes Actros 2965 6×6  Austria
 Germany		 Fire engine 5 [125]
Intended to be used to protect FARP (Forward Arming and Refueling Point).
Rosenbauer - Scania P450B 6×6 HZ —  Austria
 Sweden		 Fire engine — [123]
Intended to be used to protect FARP (Forward Arming and Refueling Point).
Rosenbauer RT  Austria
 Netherlands		 Fire engine 2 [126][127]
Volvo Penta electric driveline
Fire command vehicles
Nissan Navara (D40)  Japan On scene command vehicle 2 [128]
Škoda Yeti  Czech Republic Command vehicle 10 [129]
2 of the 10 used by the Navy
Fuel trucks
Volvo FM  Sweden Aircraft refueling truck Unknown [130][131]
30 m3 capacity
Mercedes-Benz Actros 4×4  Austria
 Germany		 Aircraft refueling truck Unknown [132]
4 m3 capacity
Maintenance vehicles
Valtra G135  Finland Tractor 13 [133][134]
To be used for airfield maintenance

Small arms

References

External links

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