Netherlands joins next stage of JSF

From Defense Aerospace

Department of Defense and Netherlands Sign Next Stage Joint Strike Fighter Agreement

(Source: US Department of Defense; issued Nov. 14, 2006)

Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England and the Netherlands Deputy Secretary for Defence Cees van der Knaap signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to begin future cooperation in the Production, Sustainment, and Follow-On Development (PSFD) phase of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program.

The Dutch, who are already contributing $800 million to the JSF Program’s development phase, plan to buy 85 conventional take-off and landing variants of the Joint Strike Fighter during the production phase.

“This is a major milestone in the long-standing friendship and partnership between the Netherlands and the United States, and I thank the Dutch military and government for the strong leadership and close friendship,” said Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England. “Our shared investment in the Joint Strike Fighter will pay important dividends for the security and freedom of both our Nations for many years in the future.”

The PSFD MOU provides a framework for future JSF Program efforts in production and beyond, and will extend cooperation beyond the current JSF System Development and Demonstration MOU among the United States and the other eight JSF partner nations, the United Kingdom, Italy, The Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Australia. The Netherlands joined the SDD MOU in June 2002, and has been part of the JSF program since 1997.

This agreement further strengthens the commitment between the United States and The Netherlands as the JSF program moves forward into the production and support phase. It will also impact across the entire spectrum of the US-Dutch defense relationship in terms of air dominance, interoperability, defense transformation, modernization, cost reduction, acquisition excellence, and the health of U.S and Dutch industrial bases.

Other JSF partner nations are anticipated to sign the PSFD MOU between now and the end of December 2006. This will support commencement of cooperative production, sustainment, and follow-on development efforts by all nine partner nations in January 2007.

The Joint Strike Fighter, the largest ever US DoD acquisition program, continues to set new standards in development of manufacturing technologies, acquisition and business practices, technology transfer, and export licensing. The first flight test is expected for December 2006.

Once the PSFD MOU signing process is completed, the partners will cooperatively develop, produce, test, train and operate a Lightning II JSF Air System that will enhance the interoperability, survivability, and affordability of allied future forces. (ends)

Netherlands Presses Ahead with JSF

(Source: Radio Netherlands; issued Nov. 14, 2006)

Deputy Defence Minister Cees van der Knaap has signed an accord in Washington agreeing to continue cooperation on the Joint Strike Fighter, JSF. The project, a collaboration between the United States, the Netherlands and seven other countries, is now moving from development to production.

The 2002 decision to participate in the JSF project was, and remains, an extremely controversial issue. Opposition parties and the Auditor General say final costs will be far higher than expected. The Christian Democrat-led governing coalition denies this.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Dutch opposition parties, currently favorites to win the Nov. 22 general elections, have said they would reconsider JSF participation, and might pull out, if they are voted into office. It was widely expected that, in light of their position, the current government would not sign the new MoU before the election. (ends)

Remarks by Dutch State Secretary for Defence Cees van der Knaap

(Source: Dutch Ministry of Defence; issued Nov. 14, 2006)

Dear Deputy Secretary of Defense, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased that the Netherlands is the first country to sign and that we are having this ceremony here and now. It marks an important new chapter in our bilateral cooperation, and underscores our commitment to enhancing security.

This important MOU covers forty-five years. The negotiation process has taken almost three years of intense discussions between nine chief negotiators and their teams. Each of the countries had the challenge of achieving their goals and, at the same time, having to reach consensus on an acceptable MoU text.

Together with Denmark and Norway, we have learned important lessons from our successful co-operation in the F-16 program. These lessons have been of great help in the preparations for the memorandum we are committing to today.

Our industrial participation on the JSF (Executive) Steering Board is very important to the Netherlands. Together with Italy we have been working diligently to give the JSF a substantive European flavour. I foresee that the European footprint activities will be an important selling point.

A special word of appreciation for Mr. Frank Kenlon, the U.S. chief negotiator: My staff informed me that the Dead Lobster Award currently resides in the Pentagon under your control. Maybe you can explain to me later what the story is behind this award?

Finally, I would like to express my thanks to the complete U.S. negotiation team for their co-operation and support.

The bilateral signatures on the SDD-MoU, and the new partnership between nine countries, will propel the JSF to take flight in the very near future.

Thank you.

-ends-