Dutch minister of defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert informed the Dutch parliament that the Royal Dutch Air Force will start flying the F-35 Lightning II next December in the USA.

Last September the Dutch announced to buy 37 F-35’s to replace their F-16’s.

The Netherlands already have two F-35’s in the United States and at the end of this month four pilots will start the theoretical training to be able to start flying the F-35 in December. These pilots will be prepared for the operational test faze that will commence in 2015.