The
11th Airmobile Brigade (
Dutch:
11 Luchtmobiele Brigade) is a rapid and light
infantry unit within the Dutch forces and can be deployed anywhere on the globe within five to twenty days to defend its own or allied territory, protect the international
rule of law and support
law enforcement,
disaster relief and
humanitarian aid. Deployment can be as part of
NATO,
United Nations or WEU (West European Union).
When the Airmobile Brigade, an Army brigade, operates integrated with the Dutch Defence Helicopter Command, an Air Force command, they form the '11th Air Manoeuvre Brigade' (11 AMB).
Helicopters from the Defence Helicopter Command support 11th Airmobile Brigade with troop transports and the transport of weapons and materials. Attack helicopters are used for reconnaissance, to give air support, and to provide cover for infantry on the ground. When helicopters are used in combination with infantry as parts of an offensive operation it is called an '
Air assault' operation. When troopcarrier helicopters are just used to bring infantry from A to B it is called an 'Air mobile' operation. With attack helicopters performing on their own it is called an 'Air mechanized' operation. When paratroopers are deployed it is called an '
Airborne' operation. The brigade is also able to operate 'Motorized' with heavily armed light armored vehicles. Specially trained units are also able to assist Special Forces as a 'Special Operations Task Group' (SOTG).
In 2003 in Poland (exercise Gainful Sword), 2012 in the Netherlands (exercise Peregrine Sword) and 2014 in Hungary the brigade had and succeeded for its operational readiness test to (re)apply for its 'Air assault' status. Passing the test it proved to be able to run a brigade operation with the Air Mobile Brigade and Defence Helicopter Command integrated as the 11th Air Manoeuvre Brigade.