Belgian F-16 Fighter Replacement To Cost Close To $16.4 Billion

Belgium’s plan to purchase 34 fighter aircraft will cost nearly 15 billion euros (16.4 billion) which includes purchase and use for over forty years.

The whole ‘life-cycle cost’ (LCC) on an estimated life of about 40 years between commissioning and 2058 is about triple the purchase price, Colonel Harry Van Pee, officer-in-charge of the F-16 replacement program was quoted as saying by RTBF, Belgian news daily Wednesday.

The Minister of Defense, Steven Vandeput last December reserved 3.5 billion euros to buy 34 new combat aircraft to replace the aging F-16 fleet between 2023 and 2029.

By adding all costs (acquisition, use two aircraft during the transition period, purchase of spare parts and documentation, personnel training and even changes and developments term), we reach more than triple costs over the lifetime, an amount of about 14.750 billion euros, added Colonel Van Pee.

Belgium still has to issue a request for proposal (RFP) to launch the project so as to allow the new fighter to be in service as per the schedule.

For deliveries to begin by 2023, Belgium is expected to issue an RFP by mid-2016. A contract will have to be awarded by 2018 to allow for production and testing.

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-35 and Saab Gripen are expected to bid for the program.