Photo By Tech. Sgt. Emili Koonce | A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II pilot signals while taxiing during a...... read more read more
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LEEUWARDEN AIR BASE, Netherlands -- The U.S. Air Force and Royal Netherlands Air Force demonstrated advanced fifth-generation interoperability among NATO Allies during an F-35 Lightning II training for NATO Allied Air Command’s Ramstein Flag exercise April 4.
Ramstein Flag 2025 is a multi-domain, tactical-level exercise focused on advancing combined warfare capabilities that tests the 15 participating NATO forces' ability to operate with maximum lethality in a full-spectrum conflict.
During the training, two F-35s assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, and two RNLAF Air Combat Command F-35s were launched by crew chiefs from the opposite nations to fly counter anti-access/area denial, or C-A2AD, training missions.
Royal Netherlands Air Force Sgt. 1st Class Rick Dejong, Air Combat Command avionics technician and F-35 crew chief, has cross serviced Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35s in his career and noted how seamless cross-servicing is within NATO.
Cross-servicing is a skill cultivated when one nation’s maintenance crew performs aircraft servicing to another nation's aircraft.
“I feel confident in cross-servicing since we have the same procedures for the most part,” said Dejong. “Of course, it’s always great to learn from each other.”
After landing, logistics and maintenance crews from both Allied nations reciprocally recovered, refueled and inspected the other nation's aircraft. Both crews ensured all technical maintenance orders were followed through the parking process while pilots disembarked to attend post mission briefs.
“It was a really good experience and a little nerve wracking at first because I’ve never serviced another nation’s jet,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. David Espinoza-Barrantes, 495th Fighter Generation Squadron dedicated crew chief. “Overall, it went really smoothly, and it was humbling to be working side by side with my NATO counterparts to get the mission done.”
Both nations successfully completed their training objectives according to 1st Lt. Joshua Hettinger, 495th FGS sortie generation flight commander. The aircraft continue to fly training missions as a part of Ramstein Flag with their respective maintenance crews.
“It’s important for us to all see we can work as a team here with our NATO Allies and partners,” said Hettinger. “I was proud to see the confidence and expertise the teams displayed.”
Enabling NATO forces to share resources and infrastructure increases collective lethality, reduces operational risk, and ensures mission continuity in contested environments.
“Cross-servicing ensures that our F-35s and those of our NATO Allies and partners can operate effectively from any NATO base,” said Hettinger. “Being able to execute that concept on a smaller scale here with our Dutch counterparts reinforces those relationships and teamwork inherent in our maintenance crews.”
The successful cross-servicing at Ramstein Flag is an example of the importance of integrated logistics and maintenance training that enhances U.S. warfighting readiness by strengthening United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa’s ability to deploy, sustain, and project fifth-generation capabilities across the European theater.
| Date Taken: | 04.04.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2025 12:56 |
| Story ID: | 494747 |
| Location: | NL |
| Web Views: | 211 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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