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Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force trains alongside U.S. counterparts at Gunfighter Flag 25-02

NATO Allied Air Command

Dec 3 2025

RAMSTEIN, Germany -- The Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force's F-35s joined U.S. Air Force units in the United States for Exercise Gunfighter Flag 25-02, hosted by the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, which recently ended, 21 November 2025. The exercise strengthened Allied cooperation and interoperability through high-intensity training in a contested operational environment.

Deploying twelve F-35s and a lean detachment of personnel across the Atlantic, the Dutch contingent demonstrated NATO's ability to deliver precision Airpower rapidly and effectively across continents. Training focused on advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground operations, including live-fire training, low-level flying, emitters, and simulated enemies and Allies.

"The Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force Air Combat Command is training at Mountain Home to maintain readiness and capabilities on many aspects, such as precision strikes with live-fire weapons, counter-A2AD and IAMD missions," said Dutch Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Smaal, 322nd Squadron Commander. "We crossed the Atlantic with twelve F-35s and a lean and mean detachment of personnel. To see outstanding performance on such a high level makes me a proud commander."

Throughout the two-week exercise, Dutch F-35s integrated with U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, F-35A Lightning IIs and C-17 Globemaster IIIs from the 62d Airlift Wing. Joint operations included refuelling, cargo drops, and coordinated sorties simulating the defence of airspace in a degraded communications environment. The exercise illustrated robust integration of mobility and fighter operations.

The deployment to Mountain Home provided Dutch pilots and ground crews with access to extensive U.S. training facilities not available in Europe, including large-scale airspace, electronic warfare emitters and realistic threat simulations. The exercise, planned over six months, underscored NATO's commitment to train as it fights — collectively, flexibly and forward.

"Gunfighter Flag 25-02 is part of a larger wing exercise where we are rapidly deploying forces within 24 hours," said U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Bradley Wills, 4th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron Commander, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. "This involves generating forces at home station, processing them through a deployment line, including medical evaluations and out-processing, placing them in crew rest, and then simulating a deployment to a forward operating location. From there, we generate sorties as soon as we arrive.

"Operating out of unfamiliar locations helps us execute the mission without the comfort of our own squadrons."

The U.S.-led exercise displayed NATO's commitment to train as it fights — collectively, flexibly, and forward. Gunfighter Flag is an example of a broader NATO approach to ensure forces remain ready to operate and integrate at short notice. As a defensive Alliance, NATO's strength lies in unity and readiness; exercises such as Gunfighter Flag embody these principles, enhancing the Alliance's deterrence posture, reinforcing transatlantic ties that safeguard peace across the Euro-Atlantic area.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office