From Monday 27 March to Friday 7 April 2017, the International Exercise Frisian Flag 2017 was held at Leeuwarden AB in the Netherlands. For two weeks, pilots practice flights for both air defense and attacking ground targets.

F-16A MLU J-009 from 322 Squadron based at Leeuwarden Air Base captured landing during Frisian Flag 2017 Leeuwarden AFB, Netherlands, March 2017.

The focus of contemporary missions is increasingly on international cooperation, leadership and precision. One of the main goals of Frisian Flag is to develop leadership skills among the participants. During the Frisian Flag, experienced pilots get the chance to develop in more than usual missions, to work them out and then to execute them. The exercise takes place in the airspace of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark but will mostly play above sea level. The combat line in the entire training area is carried out by the Dutch and German Control and Reporting Center (CRC), but also a NATO E-3A AWACS carries out assignments from Geilenkirchen.

EF-2000 31+34 German Air Force based at Norvenich Air Base captured taken off during Frisian Flag 2017 Leeuwarden AFB, Netherlands, March 2017.

The organization of Frisian Flag is provided by the 322 TACTES Squadron, the oldest and most famous squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, which was founded in the Second World War and flew with the Spitfire. TACTES stands for Tactical Training Evaluation and Standardization, providing 322 squadron nationally and internationally for standardization in operation with the F-16. Missions conducted during the Frisian Flag include air defense, offensive missions, missions to protect other air force or coalition partners, disabling enemy targets on the ground or at sea. During air defense missions, it is primarily for enemy aircraft to prevent access to a particular area. When shutting down targets on the ground, the hunting planes operate independently or in consultation with units of Landmacht or Marine.

Mirage 2000-D 3-JT from EC 1/3 Navarre from the French Air Force based at Nancy Ochey Air Base captured landing during Frisian Flag 2017 Leeuwarden AFB, Netherlands, March 2017.

Although a missed mission usually lasts for 1.5 hours, each flight is a long preparation in advance, the so-called briefing. After a mission, the flight is evaluated and analyzed in a debriefing so that the training is optimally utilized.