Exercise Frisian Flag
Is a major NATO multinational aerial exercise, held annually at Leeuwarden Air Base, Netherlands, over the North Sea[3] and in the skies above the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.[4]
Missions flown during Frisian Flag included defensive and offensive air missions, protection of friendly aircraft and Close Air Support (CAS) strikes. Some missions call for Forward Air Controller units coordinate with fighter elements to attack ground targets. Surface-to-air missile systems enabled realistic exercise scenarios missions.[5]
Acombat search and rescue element has been added to recent Frisian Flag exercises. Usually involving the rescue of downed air crew by ground forces with the assistance of fighters and helicopters.[6]
The exercise was first held in 1992 following NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina, originally called exercise DIATIT, the first three letters coming from the word DIANA, 322 Tactical Training Evaluation and Standardization (TACTES) Squadron's nickname (the organizing unit) and the last three letters coming from the words Tactical Integrated Training.[7]
It changed its name to 'Frisian Flag' in 1999. The name 'Frisian Flag' was chosen because 'Frisian' is named after the province of Friesland, the home of Leeuwarden Air Base and because of similar 'Flag' exercises such as 'Red Flag' (U.S) and 'Maple Flag' (Canada).
Frisian Flag is open to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Partnership for Peace (PfP) members, participating aircraft fly twice-daily missions during the exercise, which is designed to prepare participating aircrew for complex hostile environments, including missions that may occur in a high intensity conflict. It provides the opportunity for air forces to plan and execute complex missions including offensive and defensive training in a realistic scenario.[9] Defensive Counter Air (DCA) missions are flown with close coordination with ground-based surface-to-air missile units.[10]
The aerial exercises takes place in two waves daily, morning and afternoon during the two-week period. There is no flying in the evenings and on weekends.[11]
During the exercise, the pilots co-operate with the land and naval forces, including the JTACs (Joint Terminal Attack Controllers). The fighter component will also receive support from a NATO AWACS platform.
The European Air Refuelling Training (EART) exercise is integrated with Exercise Frisian Flag. French, Dutch, Italian and German tankers operate from Eindhoven air base.[12]
Aircraft are divided into friendly 'Blue' and hostile 'Red' forces at the start of the exercise.[13] Exercise Frisian Flag has evolved into one of the largest NATO exercises,[14] involving more than 70 aircraft from NATO and Partnership for Peace countries.[15]
Realistic ground based threats include surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems like the SA-6 'Gainful' and Roland mobile short-range SAM system and 'Smokey Sam' missiles that are fired at aircraft to simulate hostile enemy threat environment.[22] Dutch Patriot SAM batteries have also been integrated into Frisian Flag.[23] The SAM units are based at the Marnewaard training area and the Vliehors range (NATO codename 'Cornfield') on the Dutch island Vlieland.[24][25]
Canada
Denmark[27]
Finland[28]
France[29]
Germany[30]
Italy
Netherlands
Norway[31]
Poland[32]
Portugal[33]
Spain[34]
Sweden[35]
Switzerland[36]
United States[37]
United Kingdom[38]
