RNLAF F-35s Go To Edwards Air Force Base

Two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35s flew to Edwards Air Force Base Jan. 16 for the operational test and evaluation phase.

Dutch Ministry of Defense photo

The flight from Eglin Air Force Base took around five hours.

At Edwards, the F-35's self-defense, engagement and destruction of air and ground targets will be evaluated, maintenance procedures will be established, and a logistics organisation and supporting ICT systems will be set up.

Some 20 technicians, four pilots and 10 other RNLAF personnel have been trained for the F-35.

The first of 37 F-35s are scheduled to come to the Netherlands in 2019.