This month Dutch government has to decide to go in with
the American Joint Strike Fighter developement program or
not. It\'s the deadline the USA set.
It\'s an important decision on the Dutch side because it can
get or cost Holland lotsa money/expertise. Also other European
countries will be influenced by the Dutch decision.
The alternatives are :
1. JSF dev + buy JSF
2. buy Eurofighter ; fighter jet by Germany, UK and others.
3. buy French Rafale made by Dassault.
4. do not buy until 2010 ; buy one of the fighters of the shelf.
(we have F 16 now)
From me reading the news, I\'d say option 1 is gonna happen.
But American specialists point out a risk in that decision. They
say the price of JSF might go up to $ 60.000.000 and expected sales of the JSF may fail to reach target ; thus, not make Netherlandsthe promised money out of developement participation. Also specialists tell about the possiblity of Unmanned Aircrafts by that time making the JSF a bit obsolete.
What do you think ? European countries\' decisions and our TAXMONEY are at stake here ! It\'s gonna be THE BIGGEST investment the Dutch government has done in years !
Knotter8:eek:
ps It\'s my 666 post !:evil: