Dutch Rekenkamer Issues F-35 JSF Program Reports

Getting there?(click to view full) In June 2002 the Dutch House of Representatives approved the Netherlands’ participation in the development phase of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which will last until 2013. They joined as a Tier 2 country, one step below the USA and Britain, and made a contribution of $800 million. In return, they expected that participation would create orders for Dutch firms like Stork Fokker et. al., and they are well on their way to securing a key maintenance center for European F-35 fighters. The Dutch went on to sign the Production Sustainment & Follow On Development Memorandum of Understanding in November 2006, and are scheduled to make a final procurement decision in 2010. Officially, their ‘Plan B’ options include the EADS Eurofighter tranche 3, Dassault Rafale F4, and F-16 E/F Block 60. As a democratic, accountable government, the Dutch share the common practice of review by a national audit organization. Their version of the GAO, NAO, et. al. is called the Rekenkamer, or Dutch Court of Audit. The proposed F-35 purchase remains somewhat controversial, and arouses hostility on the Left in part due to its status as an American-led project. The Rekenkamer’s F-35 program reports thus […]