After nine hours of debate on Wednesday, Deputy Defence Minister Jack de Vries failed to convince a majority of parliament of the necessity of buying two test planes as part of the deal in which the Dutch air force will replace its fleet of f-16s with the US-built Joint Strike Fighter.
After much hesitation the Labour Party finally lined up with the majority of the opposition, arguing that there is insufficient information about the costs for it to be able to make an informed decision between the JSF and possible alternatives. The party suggested the possibility of purchasing flying hours so that Dutch pilots can test the aircraft before the Netherlands commits itself.
Mr de Vries dismissed this proposal as tantamount to “asking for a block” on the deal. He pointed out that existing agreements stipulate that pilots can only be trained if the Netherlands buys two planes.
The deputy minister insisted he was sticking to his original plan to buy two Joint Strike Fighters, but admitted that he would be able to “live with it” if permission were only granted for the purchase of one plane, as suggested by junior coalition partner the Christian Union.
At the end of the debate he added that civil servants in his ministry had heard from Lockheed Martin – which manufactures the JSF – that should the Dutch parliament not give permission for a second test plane, the Netherlands would be able to sell the first one back to the United States with relatively minimal losses.
The debate is continuing today with the Socialist Party due to submit a motion opposing the purchase.
