June 29, 2009 (by Master-of-Disaster) -
Since their arrival in Kandahar in September 2008 four Belgian F-16s have jointly flown 2000 flight hours.
A Belgian F-16 deploys flares & chaff during a combat patrol over Afghanistan on December 12th, 2008.
Not bad at all, knowing the operations take place under extreme circumstances that don't always allow them to fly. Also the Belgians operate from the busiest
NATO-base in the world, bringing with it all the challenges that come with it.
Under the flag of
ISAF (International Security Assistance Force)
Belgium send four F-16AM's to Afghanistan. Their mission is called 'Guardian Falcon' and their daily task is ensuring air-support over the whole of Afghanistan. Mainly their sorties can be divided in preplanned missions on one hand and Quick Reaction Alerts on the other.
In early August 2009 Belgium will deploy two additional F-16s to Afghanistan. All together there will be 125 Belgian men and women deployed.
