A new Lockheed scandal in the Netherlands? Technical problems and cost overruns make Lockheed-Martin F35 not a good investment for Dutch tax payers
Netherlands: JSF (F35 Lockheed-Martin) purchase could be postponed until 2011 or 2012
Following earlier Dutch press reports that the three Government coalition partners had agreed on taking a decision about the Lockheed-Martin JSF as a possible replacement for the F-16 Dutch fighter plane, by 2010 at the latest, Government sources in The Hague now say the decision probably would be put off until 2011 or even 2012. In the meantime, only one or two test planes would be purchased. The Dutch participation in the development of the American fighter plane has been a source of major controversy in parliament, after the Governments initial decision to get involved back in 2002. The center right Christian Democrats (CDA) are in favor of proceeding with the 2010 deadline but the Labor party (PVDA) has difficulty swallowing the idea of the JSF. The small orthodox Christian coalition member (Christen Unie) also wants more clarity about the exact cost of the JSF before taking a final decision. Consequently the JSF (or Lockheed F-35) has become a very hot political issue in the past few weeks. A majority in parliament, which included coalition Labor, last week sent the annual JSF report back to defense minister Jack de Vries for further clarification. Mr. de Vries is also being criticized for appointing a radical Muslim cleric as a religious counselor to Muslims serving in the Dutch military forces in Afganistan. As a result of all the controversy surrounding the ministry of defense the planned debate about the purchase of two test planes was postponed until next week. Should the Dutch parliament approve the purchase of the test planes next week, Dutch fighter pilots will take part in the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) phase in 2013. Apart from the US, the only other country still involved in the IOT&E phase is Britain. Taking part in the IOT&E phase will cost the Netherlands some 274 million euros.
Many politicians believe it would probably be a wise move for the Dutch Government to postpone the decision or even cancel the purchase of the F35 all together. The plane is not only plagued by technical problems but also by cost overruns. One of the main problems is that the F-35 is having serious difficulties getting rid of excess heat. This will require a redesign. A look at the history of the aircraft also shows several problems that already required some redesign, including airframe fatigue problems. It is also strange that the Netherlands is gambling on the purchase of a basically untested US fighter aircraft when there are proven high quality EU made stealth fighter aircraft like the Gripen, Rafale and Eurofighter available. It is also interesting that it is once again a purchase from Lockheed that is causing an upheaval in Dutch political circles. Back in the late 1970’s Prince Bernhard, husband of the former queen Juliana, had pocketed a million-dollar bribe for ensuring that the Dutch government would choose Lockheed planes for their military needs. Bernard at that time was the Chief of the combined Dutch military forces, which included the air force.
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