Dutch Government to Industry: See You in Court over JSF

F-35A: Dutch treat?(click to view full) The Netherlands is a notable player in the multinational F-35 program, as one of only two Tier 2 program partners, and the future site of a European maintenance hub. The government is still deciding whether it will join the Joint Strike Fighter’s IOTE (Initial Operational Test & Evaluation) phase and purchase 2 aircraft. Meanwhile, what was once a slam-dunk to replace RNLAF F-16s has now become a competition of sorts involving Saab’s JAS-39NG Gripen. To this point, the Dutch have invested over EUR 850 million in the F-35’s development phases. The financing arrangements involved are highly unusual. They have now become a subject of possible legal action, as the government insists that industry players owe it more than EUR 300 million… * From Fokker’s Crash to the Joint Strike Fighter * Dutch Treat: Tier 2 – With a Twist * The Present Dispute: Updates and Key Events From Fokker’s Crash to the Joint Strike Fighter Snoopy’s curse worked.(click to view full) The saga actually begins in 1996 with the bankruptcy of Fokker, an aviation firm that had been founded in 1912. The firm’s entire saga had been worthy of an opera, and the squeeze […]