Global Post reports the Netherlands wants to buy 37 new F-35 Joint
Strike Fighters (JSF) from US-based Lockheed Martin in a deal worth 4.5
billion euros ($6 billion) to replace its ageing fleet of F-16s by
2019, the country's defense minister said Tuesday.
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert announced the long-debated purchase in a letter to parliament at the presentation of the government's 2014 budget at the Lower House's official opening in The Hague. afford
"In view of our current planning, the F-35 (also known as the Joint Strike Fighter) will go into service by 2019," operating from two Dutch air force bases, the minister said.
"After evaluating competitors in 2001 and 2008 and with updated relevant data in 2013, the cabinet has decided, based on operational and financial considerations, to choose the F-35 as the new fighter plane for the Dutch armed forces," she said.
The choice had been widely expected, with the Netherlands closely involved as one of the contributing countries to the JSF's development.
As early as 1997, the JSF has been flagged as the preferential candidate to replace the Dutch fleet of F-16s because of its stealth features, which make it almost invisible to radar.
In 2002, the Netherlands and eight other countries joined the fighter's development phase.
But a finalized Dutch purchase had been rejected in parliament, mainly by the centre-left Labour Party (PvdA) while in opposition.
However, that decision changed after Labour formed a majority coalition in the Lower House with Prime Minister Mark Rutte's Liberal party (VVD) after last September's elections.
The bottom line however is: can the Netherlands afford an expense of 4.5 billion euro's for this airplane while the Dutch taxpayer is asked to make all kinds of sacrifices to meet Government austerity measures. In addition the Government is buying into an airplane which has been plagued by problems.
An other problem is that the Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program continues to trigger new controversies. Latest comments allege flawed estimates of the jet's weight and, as before, questions about the timeline for the plane's delivery and final cost.
The F-35 was spotlighted in technical troubles in addition to debates over its costs. In February the U.S. Department of Defense suspended flights of all 51 F-35 planes after a routine inspection revealed a crack on a turbine blade in the jet engine of an F-35 test aircraft.
Outgoing Executive Vice President and JSF General Manager Tom Burbage was quoted in the news media as saying the manufacturer miscalculated on the aircraft's weight during its early development.
The question remains: should the Netherlands cut their losses on the JSF and pull out of the project or go deeply into debt with a project which is extremely questionable?
EU-Digest
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert announced the long-debated purchase in a letter to parliament at the presentation of the government's 2014 budget at the Lower House's official opening in The Hague. afford
"In view of our current planning, the F-35 (also known as the Joint Strike Fighter) will go into service by 2019," operating from two Dutch air force bases, the minister said.
"After evaluating competitors in 2001 and 2008 and with updated relevant data in 2013, the cabinet has decided, based on operational and financial considerations, to choose the F-35 as the new fighter plane for the Dutch armed forces," she said.
The choice had been widely expected, with the Netherlands closely involved as one of the contributing countries to the JSF's development.
As early as 1997, the JSF has been flagged as the preferential candidate to replace the Dutch fleet of F-16s because of its stealth features, which make it almost invisible to radar.
In 2002, the Netherlands and eight other countries joined the fighter's development phase.
But a finalized Dutch purchase had been rejected in parliament, mainly by the centre-left Labour Party (PvdA) while in opposition.
However, that decision changed after Labour formed a majority coalition in the Lower House with Prime Minister Mark Rutte's Liberal party (VVD) after last September's elections.
The bottom line however is: can the Netherlands afford an expense of 4.5 billion euro's for this airplane while the Dutch taxpayer is asked to make all kinds of sacrifices to meet Government austerity measures. In addition the Government is buying into an airplane which has been plagued by problems.
An other problem is that the Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program continues to trigger new controversies. Latest comments allege flawed estimates of the jet's weight and, as before, questions about the timeline for the plane's delivery and final cost.
The F-35 was spotlighted in technical troubles in addition to debates over its costs. In February the U.S. Department of Defense suspended flights of all 51 F-35 planes after a routine inspection revealed a crack on a turbine blade in the jet engine of an F-35 test aircraft.
Outgoing Executive Vice President and JSF General Manager Tom Burbage was quoted in the news media as saying the manufacturer miscalculated on the aircraft's weight during its early development.
The question remains: should the Netherlands cut their losses on the JSF and pull out of the project or go deeply into debt with a project which is extremely questionable?
EU-Digest
