Impasse Over Joint Strike Fighter Talks

The [Dutch] government and the aerospace industry have called off their negotiations on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) jet, according to a letter sent by to parliament on Thursday by Economic Affairs Minister Maria van der Hoeven.>> This makes a court case unavoidable, reports NRC.>> The two sides are at odds about the amount of money the aerospace industry will have to pay to the government to cover any shortfall in its 858m development budget.>> That shortfall has now reached EUR 308m, according to economic affairs ministry figures in October.>> The aerospace industry disputes the figure and says the investment will be earned back without any contribution from them, says NRC.>> A ministry spokesman told NRC 'the ball is now in the industry's court'. The industry has until December 15 to decide whether it wants to start legal proceedings. (ends)>