Dutch Rekenkamer Issues F-35 JSF Program Reports

Getting there?

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 have political impact in the Netherlands, and are also watched in other European countries that face the same issues. The Dutch Court of Audit’s October 2006 report has now be joined by a December 2007 follow-on…