AMSTERDAM — A major international aerial exercise begins at Leeuwarden Air Force Base in the north of the Netherlands on Monday.

‘Frisian Flag 2005’ will feature 38 fighter jets from five countries. Over a two-week period the aircraft will simulate the conditions experienced in conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo, the Defence Ministry in The Hague said on Friday.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force’s F-16 jets will be joined by F-18s from Finland, Saab Gripens from Sweden, German F-4 Phantoms and Jaguar fighter-bombers from the UK.

A KDC-10 tanker from the base in the Dutch city of Eindhoven will be used to refuel the combat jets in the air. An AWACS warning and control aircraft is being contributed by the Nato base in Geilenkirchen, Germany.

The Defence Ministry said the exercise is comparable to the ‘Red Flag’ and ‘Red Maple’ war games in the US and Canada respectively.

The majority of the missions during ‘Frisian Flag’ will be flown over military exercise zones above the North Sea.

The planes have to operate above 150 metres and will not be allowed to fly at night or during weekends, the ministry said.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2005]

Subject: Dutch news