More Than 70 Dutch Companies Already Involved In Development of F-35 Lightning II

Stork Fokker, More than 70 Dutch companies are now involved in the development of the F-35 Lightning II (JSF). These companies have up to now received total orders with a value of US$ 700 million. The expectation of a total production order value of US$ 8 to 10 billion remains undiminished. Out of the potential turnover for Stork (US$ 4- 6 billion), orders worth approximately EUR 1.3 billion may be subcontracted to other Dutch companies. 
 
This will be announced today at a Stork meeting for existing and potential JSF suppliers, which is being held by Stork Fokker in Hoogeveen, in close partnership with the Netherlands Defence Manufacturers Association (NIID). The aim of the day is to underline and illustrate the importance of participation by Dutch small and medium-size enterprises in the JSF programme. 
 
In addition, information is being provided about the many opportunities in the short and medium term. More than a hundred Dutch companies have been invited to attend the event. Dutch national and provincial politics will also be represented. Three JSF agreements between Stork Aerospace and Dutch small and medium-size enterprises will be signed in the presence of guests including Secretary of State Van der Knaap of the Ministry of Defence. 
 
“Participation by small and medium-size enterprises in the JSF programme is essential for Dutch aerospace knowledge, for manufacturing industry and for Stork”, says Stork CEO Sjoerd Vollebregt. “The combination of unique competences of Stork and Dutch SMEs enables us to participate successfully in this technologically innovative programme. We expect to outsource orders with a value of approximately EUR 1.3 billion to companies in the Dutch supply chain based on our present participation. I am proud of our role as standard-bearer for the Dutch aerospace cluster.” 
 
Cent van Vliet, director of the NIID: “With the present order value of more than US$ 700 million 4 years after the start of the Dutch participation in the JSF programme, we fully expect to achieve the expected production order value of US$ 8 to 10 billion. More than 70 Dutch companies are already involved, and I'm looking forward to seeing that total reach 100!”