Dutch postpone first JSF buy Until 2010

The brawl in the Cabinet concerning the Joint Strike Fighter has been provisionally calmed. An imminent political crisis concerning the purchase of the American aircraft has been averted by a complex compromise between the CDA, PvdA and the Christian Union parties. The coalition parties have agreed to delay until 2010 a final decision concerning Dutch participation in the program’s operational test and evaluation phase. However, the Cabinet was authorized to negotiate contractual terms for the construction of an initial test aircraft. But, formally, nothing is to be purchased this year. Moreover the final decision concerning the replacement of the complete F-16 fleet is postponed. It will not be made in 2010, as planned, but in 2012, and therefore by the next Cabinet [ie, the next government—Ed.]. In total, the planned 85 JSF aircraft will cost 6 billion euros. The agreement by the government coalition allows the Netherlands to make an advance payment on the projected cost of 113.2 million euros of the first aircraft. As a result, the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin can begin construction of a test plane. The Netherlands continues in this way to participate in the test phase, as a result of which Dutch airmen can begin training on the FSF (F-35) in 2011. However, the possibility has now been built in the contract that, next year, it will still be possible to abandon the effective purchase. The ordered aircraft would then be taken back by Lockheed Martin. The maximum financial risk to the Netherlands amounts to 20 million euros.