News item | 12-05-2025 | 14:05
From 12 May in the Northern Netherlands, around 1,500 Dutch country and air force soldiers will carry out actions in the Northern Netherlands for almost 2 weeks. They use 20 transport and combat helicopters for this. An American helicopter unit is also present. Leeuwarden Air Base is the beating heart of this exercise Falcon Spring.
The Defense Helicopter Command (DHC) works closely with 11 Airmobile Brigade. They need each other to successfully complete the fight. During various scenarios, helicopters drop the airmobile soldiers on the ground. They must then take and secure ‘under enemy circumstances’.
That will happen regularly in the night hours in the coming weeks. Helicopter crews also regularly train low -flying. In areas with an increased threat of radars and rocket systems, it is not an option at a greater height with helicopters. Helicopters fly low to hide from that threat. In this way they try to stand out as little as possible for the enemy. This way of self -protection requires a specific training that must be kept properly. A well -trained and calculated armed forces is necessary in view of the deteriorating safety situation.
Temporary bases
There is certainly not just flown. A large part is set to the ground. During the day Falcon Spring temporary bases are being set up rapidly, so -called Forward Operating Bases (FOB). In a war situation, operating from a central home location is dangerous. This is an easy target for the enemy. To keep moving and staying under the radar of the enemy, the soldiers move. They then perform their actions from the FOBs. These bases are set up in Drachten, Havelte and Marnehuizen.
It is the first time that the Defense Helicopter Command has practiced a scenario in which surgery is made from several temporary bases. Setting up and operating from this is seen as a strategic essential and realistic scenario. Falcon Spring So prepare the units for future missions in which rapid effort and operational flexibility are crucial.
To be able to set everything up properly, quite a bit of logistical support is needed. That is why this morning around 150 vehicles left from Gilze-Rijen with all the items required for this. They drive in columns of 20 vehicles to the north.