The Dutch ordered a total of fifty-two Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II's for the air force. On 31 October 2019, the first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II for the Royal Netherlands Air Force arrived from Cameri AB in Italy at Leeuwarden AB (EHLW/LWR). This JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) is registered F-009 and serves with 322 Squadron at Leeuwarden AFB. Lockheed Martin F-35A F-009 s/n AN-09 (USAF FY/n 17-5308) is produced at the Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility at Cameri Airbase in Italy. The FACO is a joint venture between Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi, the Italian Ministry of Defence, and Lockheed Martin. The Lockheed Martin F-35A Block 3 s/n AN-09 was flown first on 9 September 2019.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II is F35
During the ceremony around the first F-35 aircraft arrival at Leeuwarden Air Base, the fire brigade would form an honorary bow of water just before the aircraft drove to the platform where the official arrival was celebrated. This did not go well since one of the crashtenders sprayed extinguishing foam instead of water over the F-35A. The result of this unintended extinguisher was that the aircraft was thoroughly inspected first for damage or corrosion before it was allowed to fly again.

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