NO(^90) THE MAGAZINE 02 91
SCANDINAVIAN
AVIATION MAGAZINE
Frisian Flag 2018
Frisian Flag is a large exercise which is held
annually at Leeuwarden Air Base in the
Netherlands. With Participating aircraft from
several countries with over 75 aircraft in total and
all launching and recovering twice a day from
Leeuwarden.
Frisian Flag 2018 is the 19th year of the exercise
and has become a popular event for many
nations. The intention of this exercise is the
joint training of NATO and Allied Nations for any
conflict situation, consequently allowing aircrew
to enhance their co-operation and strengthen the
relations between Nations.
Missions flown during Frisian Flag included
defensive missions which protects ground objects
on land and at sea over Dutch airspace. Also
slow moving or high valued aircraft in corporation
with air defence systems as well as offensive
missions which involves pre-planned strikes,
gaining air superiority, suppression of enemy air
defence systems with support from Forward Air
Controllers. The command and control of aircraft
was provided by Dutch and German Control
and Reporting Centres (CRCs) as well as NATO
AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System)
aircraft.
One of the main sorties during this exercise is
Air-to-Air Refuelling. This is made possible by
an exercise which runs simultaneously with
Frisian Flag known as European Air Refuelling
Training (EART). The tankers all launch and
return to Eindhoven Airport in the South of The
Netherlands. The training sorties would see the
tankers head North to meet up with the fighters
to undertake the transfer of fuel. These two linked
exercises allow further international co-operation
and expand the complexity of Frisian Flag
missions.
The pilots are flying daily with a mission lasting
between one and a half to three hours, with a
further four to five hours for mission planning
beforehand and a three-hour debriefing after
arriving back at Leeuwarden Air Base. Two waves
were flown daily, usually more aircraft were flown
in the morning wave than in the afternoon.
The event regularly draws many aviation media
and enthusiasts to Leeuwarden Air Base during
the 2-week period, averaging around 500 people
per day such is the scale and interest in the
exercise.