Ramstein Flag 25 in full swing
- Robin Polderman
- Apr 6
- 2 min read
Report and photos by Robin Polderman
In order to enhance interoperability among NATO airforces, exercise Ramstein Flag came into being following the worsening security situation in Europe. After the first edition, which took place in Greece during October 2024, this year’s exercise takes place in Danish, Dutch and German airspace over the North Sea.
Since the RNLAF has extensive experience organizing a broadly similar exercise at Leeuwarden airbase (dubbed Frisian Flag), NATO Air Command asked for the second edition of Ramstein Flag to be co-hosted by the Netherlands, with the blueprint of Frisian Flag being used to plan the exercise.
Besides Leeuwarden, some flying assets use Skrydstrup in Denmark (Danish, Hungarian and Italian aircraft), RAF Fairford (Romanian and Turkish aircraft), as well as Eindhoven (Canadian and multi-national (MMU) tanker support).
The British, French, Italian, and USAF tankers supporting the exercise operate from their homebases in Great Britain, France and Italy. In total, almost 100 aircraft take part in the exercise operating from 10 different locations.
As was the case with the first issue of Ramstein Flag, two waves are flown with the second wave taking place in complete darkness.
Main operating base Leeuwarden plays host to five Finnish F/A-18C Hornets, five French Rafale Bs from EC01.030, five Greek F-16Vs from Souda Bay, six Swedish JAS-39 Gripens, eight German EF2000 Eurofighters, six USAFE F-35As from RAF Lakenheath and seven F-35A from 313sqn (RNLAF Volkel). All these assets operate alongside the F-35 Lightnings of the 322sqn, homebased at Leeuwarden.
The exercise runs from 31 March until 11 April.
