Falcon Spring is the Dutch Army’s annual training exercise for the 11th Airmobile Brigade (11th AMB), the Netherlands’ specialised rapid-response light infantry unit. The exercise brings together the 11th AMB and the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s Defence Helicopter Command (DHC) to conduct intensive training in air assault, air manoeuvre, and joint combat operations. AeroResource’s Nicholas Thompson spoke to Lieutenant Colonel Sander, Commander of DHC’s 298 Squadron about this year’s edition, with images by Paul Thompson, who captured one of the exercise’s air assault missions at Ossesluis (De Wijk). 

This year’s Falcon Spring expanded beyond the cooperation of the 11th AMB and DHC with the addition of the U.S. Army Europe’s 12th Combat Aviation Brigade (12 CAB). Together the combined force brought together 1500 soldiers, 20 helicopters and a fleet of support vehicles into action. Training focused on executing large-scale airmobile operations both by day and night and at low-level. 

“Every moment we can fly in the darkness and low level is realistic. Especially in current times we have a great need to improve our skills because of the clear and present enemy threat”, said Lieutenant Colonel Sander 

 While Leeuwarden Air Base served as the main logistical hub, the exercise emphasised dispersed deployment across five provinces: Drenthe, Friesland, Groningen, Overijssel, and Flevoland. For the first time, multiple Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) were established at Drachten, Havelte, and Marnehuizen. These were supported by Forward Arming and Refuelling Points (FARPs), significantly extending helicopter endurance during missions. 

This year also marked the debut of DHC’s new “Three-Squadron Concept”, explained by Lieutenant Colonel Sander: 

“… We have a set-up with an Attack (AH-64E), Transport (CH-47F) and Combat Service Support Squadron to execute dynamic missions. Dynamic means executing missions with FOB and F(A)RP elements jumping for short times to executed dispersed hubs for the flying assets. This is the main difference with our home-base ops … In the Netherlands, a lot of admin and checks and balances need to be done to be able to execute missions with the helicopters. The temporary and improvised setting of the exercise in contrast to the facilities of the home base asks for more flexibility and situational approaches.” 

The involvement of the 12th CAB’s 214th Aviation Regiment brought valuable field-operating experience that Dutch forces were keen to learn from; 

“12 CAB is a unit that is used to operating “in the field” more than the DHC units are used to during the last decades. So, from the DHC perspective we learned a lot from their way of operating from FOB’s (or Tactical Assembly Area’s) …” 

A total of 20 helicopters supported the exercise, with 11 participating in the air assault at Ossesluis (De Wijk). The mission included troop insertion and underslung load delivery to enable ground units to secure objectives. 

 “The main goal of an Air Assault operation should be clear for the Ground Task Force Commander and the Air elements, especially when they operate dislocated and with limited Command, Control and Communications possibilities … there are a few elements that are key: 1) Loading plan, 2) LZ plan and movement of ground component, 3) Extraction plan (if extraction is needed). Within the plan there is always the need to take the element of terrain, weather and of course the enemy in consideration.”  

D-472 CH-47F 298 Sqn 

D-473 CH-47F 298 Sqn 

D-482 CH-47F 298 Sqn 

D-485 CH-47F 298 Sqn 

Q-37 AH-64E 301 Sqn 

Q-38 AH-64E 301 Sqn 

Q-39 AH-64E 301 Sqn 

91-26319 UH-60V A/1-214th AVN 

92-26459 UH-60V A/1-214th AVN 

93-26499 UH-60V A/1-214th AVN 

95-26609 UH-60V A/1-214th AVN 

95-26620 UH-60V A/1-214th AVN 

98-26824 UH-60V A/1-214th AVN 

13-08132 CH-47F B/1-214th AVN 

13-08133 CH-47F B/1-214th AVN 

15-08176 CH-47F B/1-214th AVN 

15-08178 CH-47F B/1-214th AVN 

13-08436 CH-47F B/1-214th AVN 

20-21129 HH-60M C/1-214th AVN 

20-21130 HH-60M C/1-214th AVN 

As tensions rise across Europe, exercises like Falcon Spring are more critical than ever for enhancing NATO interoperability and combat readiness. When asked about the importance of such high-tempo training in today’s environment, Lieutenant Colonel Sander was clear: 

“Very important. In a time where we focus on a different concept of operations, based on a peer enemy instead of a peace or stabilisation mission like the ones In Iraq, Afghanistan and Mali, we need to be aware that we need to operate in a different way, have a different mindset and have the right equipment to do so. With these elements in place, and the training we do: we will be ready for any mission asked from us. And that is why our Chinook squadron motto is: “You call, We Haul!” 

AeroResource would like to thank Defence Helicopter Command communications team for their help in facilitating responses from 298 Squadron’s commander Lieutenant Colonel Sander, and Paul Thompson for his image use. 

You can find out more about The Royal Netherlands Army here: Royal Netherlands Army | Defensie.nl and Defence Helicopter Command here: Vliegbasis Gilze-Rijen | Koninklijke Luchtmacht | Defensie.nl

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