NO(^46) THE MAGAZINE 02 47
SCANDINAVIAN
AVIATION MAGAZINE
A double decade of dutch delta
At the end of the Cold War, the demand for an
attack helicopter arose for the Royal Netherlands
Air Force (RNLAF). The tender procedure was
complicated and caused a tough political battle
in which various Dutch ministries were directly
opposed. After much lobbying, the American
AH-64D Apache was chosen as the most suitable
candidate for the West European country.
Since its introduction twenty years ago, the
type has been deployed worldwide for a variety
of tasks, including combat operations, armed
reconnaissance and air policing operations. To
the general public, the ‘Dutch Delta’ became
known during its legendary flight demonstrations
of the RNLAF Apache Demo Team. After years
of heavy cutbacks and ongoing deployments,
the tide seems to be turning for the RNLAF.
With an approval of the US State Department to
remanufacture the entire Apache-fleet, the attack
helicopter will remain in service for many years.
The first battle
In the nineties, the Netherlands was in need of
a rapidly deployable unit which could operate in
worldwide missions. The 11th Air Mobile Brigade,
a light infantry combat unit, was established in
1992 to meet this demand. With establishment of
the unit, the helicopter fleet of the RNLAF quickly
expanded with CH-47D Chinooks and AS532U2
Cougars. In order for these new transport
helicopters to operate safely, the purchase of
a versatile attack helicopter became necessary.
The Dutch MoD therefore send five manufacturers
a request for quotation on 10 December 1991.
The ministry showed interest in the Agusta A129
Mangusta, the Bell AH-1W Super Cobra, the
Eurocopter EC-665 Tigre, the Boeing/Sikorsky
RAH-66A Comanche and the McDonell Douglas
AH-64 Apache. The Comanche was quickly
declined as a possibility, since the type could
only be operational from 2002 onwards.
The RNLAF showed a strong preference for the
Apache since the type had proven itself during
various deployments, including the conflict in
Panama and actions in the Gulf War during
Operation Desert Storm. In addition, the Apache
was already in production and the helicopter
could therefore be delivered relatively quickly
to the Netherlands. A big advantage, since the
RNLAF did not operate an attack helicopter at
the time.
The decision
After further investigation, the Royal Netherlands
Air Force decided the Super Cobra and the
Mangusta did not meet their requirements.
The development risks of the Mangusta were
too big and the Super Cobra had to many
limitations. Thus it became a race between the
Tigre and the Apache. Despite the preference of
the Dutch MoD, the battle for the new helicopter
had not been fought yet. There was a political
preference on the French-German built Tigre.
After all, purchasing a helicopter from a European
manufacturer would be another step towards
European military cooperation.
In the spring of 1995, the Dutch House of
Representatives decided to purchase thirty
AH-64Ds. The representatives underpinned
their choice on the fact the Apache had, in
contrast to the Tigre, already proven itself in
the field. The Tigre was still in development
and not in production yet, only a few flying
prototypes were in use.
The low dollar exchange rate, due to the Mexican
crisis, was a decisive factor as well. The order
of Fl.1,3 billion (approximately €589 million/$725
million) was signed at Gilze-Rijen AFB on May the
24th, 1995. With the signing of the contracts, the
Netherlands became the first country to place an
order for the Delta-model, after the United States.
Later it would appear the decision to purchase
the Apache would be well-founded since the
first operational deployment of the Tigre was
only in 2009. No less then eight years after the
first deployment of Dutch Apaches, to Djibouti
in 2001. If the Dutch armed forces had opted
for the Tigre, several missions would have been
jeopardized due to the lack of Close Air Support
(CAS) by attack helicopters.