Dutch Bail on F-35

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.