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Belgian Air Force F-16s at the Active Lion exercise

October 7, 2005 (by Anonymous) - During the "Active Lion" part of the major Belgian defence exercise "Active Response", the Air Component's participation was composed of fighter aircraft, transports and helicopters.
This particular part of the exercise was organised in the framework of the HRF/NRF qualification (High Readiness Forces/Nato Response Force) of the Belgian Land Component and took place at the large German training area of Bergen-Höhne.

Several C-130H Hercules transports were used for different types of missions including para-drops; one aircraft being deployed to the nearby German base of Fassberg.

Six F-16's from Kleine Brogel and Florennes executed close protection flights for the C-130's and at several occasions were called upon by FAC's (Forward Air Controllers) to perform close support missions. Eight Agusta A-109BA (one of them in Airevac configuration) as well as 2 Alouette II communications helicopters were used in the field in direct support of the ground troops.

To give the exercise a slight international flavour, a French Armée de l'Air C-135FR tanker supported the F-16 in their missions and a Luxembourg ground company fought alongside the Belgian troops. Active Response was the largest exercise organised by the Belgian Defence since many years.