It was close - 77 to 71 - but it was enough for the Dutch parliament to cancel their planned purchase of 80 F-35 stealth light attack bombers.
Lockheed is trying to put the best face on the setback, saying the Dutch could always change their minds - and votes - and hop back into the multinational programme. The vote has also sent shockwaves through Finmeccanica, whose Rome-based Aeromacchi plant was supposed to build the F-35 for the Italian and Dutch air forces.
4 comments:
The Dutch are clever people.
Flightless bird now. Ever see this: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2012/03/top-gun-2-will-rock-the-f-35-t.html
The Dutch have always been a careful people when it comes to money. They like a good deal, and no amount of wining & dinning will get around it. i guess other countries might want to have a look at the Dutch position, maybe like Canada, but hey, our defense minsiter Peter Mackay just loves all those bells & whistles & he isn't paying for them.
Related, at the Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute's "3Ds Blog":
"F-35: More on Possible USN Wobbling/US Costs"
Mark
Ottawa
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