LEEUWARDEN AIR BASE, NETHERLANDS – A special day today for the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) when 2 brand new F-35A Lightning II’s touched down early in the afternoon at Leeuwarden Air Base on January 12, 2022. The 2 fighter jets are the last F-35 for Leeuwarden Air Base and the first F-35 for Volkel Air Base.

Welkom F-023 en F-024! Special day today with the arrival of the last #322sqn F-35 and the first @VlbVolkel F-35 earlier this afternoon. Look at that light(nings)!🥰 Bringing more #5thGen #ACC airpower! @Kon_Luchtmacht @thef35 @Defensie #F35 #R2FAAVKL pic.twitter.com/6ScXdJ13ki

— Vliegbasis Leeuwarden (@VlbLeeuwarden) January 12, 2022

The two F-35s, with serial numbers F-023 and F-024 flew in from the Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO) line in Cameri, Italy. According to the RNLAF F-023 will be the last F-35 for Leeuwarden based 322 Squadron and the first F-35 for Volkel based 313 Squadron, the second Dutch air base to be equipped with the successor of the F-16.

On its way to Leeuwarden Air Base F-024 performed a flyby at its future home, Volkel Air Base, where the first F-35As will be transferred to, mid 2022.

Vandaag landde de 24e Nederlandse #F35 @VlbLeeuwarden.
De F-024 is de eerste #F35 die bestemd is voor Volkel. Op weg van Italië naar Leeuwarden maakte de F-024 alvast een ‘touch and go’ op #brabantsebodem. De eerste #F35’s worden medio 2022 @VlbVolkel verwacht. (📷: Roel Bakker) pic.twitter.com/gzgBQWiAzZ

— Vliegbasis Volkel (@VlbVolkel) January 12, 2022

The first 322 Squadron F-35 arrived at Leeuwarden on October 31, 2019 and has now received all of its 15 ordered Lightning IIs. On December 27, 2021, the squadron already attained Initial Operational Capability (IOC).

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Head image: © KLu Vliegbasis Leeuwarden