New Developments in Advanced Force Led Exercise Deviant Dragon Trains Allied Fighter Units

From April 12 to 23, the Royal Netherlands Air Force is hosting the multi-domain live-fire exercise Deviant Dragon 21, offering the Dutch coast, providing joint interoperability training to units from six Allied nations in high-intensity operations. The participating units were supported by the Royal Netherlands Navy, controlling surface and underwater targets, further enhancing maritime interoperability.

German Air Force Tornado ECR, along with similar ground threats, participated in the exercise. Participation included Dutch F-16 and F-35 fighters supported by KDC-10 tankers along with German Eurofighter and Tornados, Danish F-16s, and USAF F-15C aircraft. To ensure maximum training value for both airmen and fighter controllers, Deviant Dragon provided a threat increasing scenario in which Mission Commanders needed to adjust and deal with multiple aerial targets as well as simulated surface targets.

Netherlands Armed Forces Led Exercise Deviant Dragon Trains Allied Fighter Units

U.S. Air Force F-15s from RAF Mildenhall joined the large-scale air package ranging against multiple aerial targets. Portioned by U.S. Air Force, the exercise was conducted in Dutch controlled airspace above the North Sea and northern part of the Netherlands. The type of exercise focused on large scale, high-intensity missions between large packages of 4th and 5th generation aircraft. This helps develop Allied interoperability and readiness with both offensive and defensive missions using multi-domain dissimilar type airborne assets operating in a contested, degraded, and operationally limited environment.

HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën carried out the role of fighter controllers, further enhancing maritime interoperability. Portioned by HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën, they carried out the role of fighter controllers, further enhancing maritime interoperability. Portioned by HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën, they carried out the role of fighter controllers, further enhancing maritime interoperability.