KABUL, 01/09/05 - Defence Minister Henk Kamp plans to substantially increase the transport capacity of the air force. More Chinooks and C130 Hercules transport planes must be acquired, and more personnel recruited.

Without these reinforcements, the Netherlands is reaching the limits of its capabilities, the minister explained during a visit to the Dutch troops in Afghanistan. He is expected to state his plans in more detail in the defence budget on 20 September.

The Netherlands had thirteen Chinook transport helicopters, but one of these was lost after crashing in Afghanistan recently. With the present complement, it is not possible to take part in an operation for longer than a year. Kamp is therefore aiming at a total of 17 or 18 Chinooks plus extra personnel.

The Netherlands has two C130 Hercules machines for heavy transport work to poorly accessible airfields. One new plane was already planned, but Kamp now wishes for an unknown number of extra C130 Hercules aircraft. In addition, a third DC10 will be available next year for long-distance goods transport. No changes are planned at present for the F16 fleet and the Apache combat helicopters.

According to prospective air force commandant Lieutenant-General Hans de Jong, the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown that adequate transport capacity by air is indispensable in regions of this type. Transport by road is often too time-consuming. It has also become clear that the smaller Cougar transport helicopter has insufficient lifting power.?