Falcon Spring 2025: Airmobile power in action

Black Hawk helicopters take off to take part in a Falcon Spring 2025 operation.

Falcon Spring 2025 is a realistic, large-scale exercise in which Dutch and American soldiers prepare for a deployment in hostile conditions. It started on 12 May in the northern Netherlands and will run for approximately two weeks. The main participants of Falcon Spring 2025 are the 11th Airmobile Brigade, together with the Defense Helicopter Command (DHC) and the American 12th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Approximately 1,500 Dutch army and air force soldiers are participating in the exercise. The air component is impressive and consists of a mix of Dutch and American helicopters.

Falcon Spring was established to prepare airmobile units for deployment in a dynamic, hostile area. It focuses mainly on combat, but also includes activities related to logistics, medical evacuation, communication, cooperation with air support and operations from temporary bases. Soldiers also train to set up forward base camps (FOBs), conduct airborne operations, protect strategic targets such as bridges and locks and operate under enemy threat. Much attention is also paid to cooperation, tactical action and operations in difficult circumstances.

Report by Joris van Boven and Alex van Noije