Dutch helicopters exercise in the UK

In late February 2019, eight helicopters from the Netherlands Defensie Helicopter Commando (Defence Helicopter Command) deployed to Carlisle Airport in Cumbria for two weeks of extensive electronic warfare training at nearby RAF Spadeadam.

Last held in 2016, Exercise Tac Blaze UK 2019 saw 250 troops, 80 vehicles and eight helicopters use Carlisle Airport as a forward operating base for the flight training phase, between February 25 and March 8, 2019.

The eight aircraft comprised three CH-47D Chinooks (298 Squadron), three AH-64D Apaches (301 Squadron) and two AS532U2 Cougars (300 Squadron), all from Gilze-Rijen Air Base.

Covering 9,600 acres, RAF Spadeadam is the largest Royal Air Force station by land area. It is also the only electronic warfare tactics facility in Europe where aircrews can practise manoeuvres and tactics against a variety of threats they might face in warfare.