Dutch F-35s arrive in California

Two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35s flew from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to Edwards Air Force Base in California last Friday. The Joint Strike Fighters are due to undergo the operational testing and evaluation phase in the ‘golden state’.

The first batch of the Dutch F-35s are expected to start operating from the Netherlands from 2019 onwards. The Netherlands Defence organisation has decided to purchase at least 37 of the new fighter aircraft. Twenty technicians, 4 pilots and 10 support personnel have already been trained to work with the F-35s.