BEST FIGHTER FOR CANADA

The Netherlands' will have to make do with far less F-35's than planned. Well, it looks like The Netherlands is going to go ahead with its F-35 purchase. Sort of. Out of the original 85 F-35As planned for the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), only 37 will be purchased at a cost of $6 billion (with a 10% contingency budget).   This after years of speculation and controversy over the program's delays, cost increases, and offsets for the Dutch aerospace industry.  The Netherlands have already purchased two early production F-35As, but those jets were put into storage. 68 Dutch F-16s are scheduled for replacement. These 37 F-35As will be replacing the 68 F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcons currently in service.  At one point, the RNLAF had 213 F-16s in service. For Sale:  One Dutch Joint Support Ship. Thanks to military spending cuts, the F-35 is not the only victim of cutbacks.  The Dutch government is now considering selling off its brand new ...

The F-35.  Still as controversial as ever. I've avoided mentioning the F-35 for a while. I've been critical of it in the past, both on the basis of what I believe is a flawed concept and execution, as well as it's suitability for Canada.  I've tried to take a step back and reevaluate the F-35, but so far I'm far from convinced. GOOD NEWS: So far, the F-35 program has been safe from budget cuts, and likely will be for the near future. Its price is dropping ...  Well...   Sort of . Construction of the F-35 has started in Italy . The Netherlands have take custody of their first two Lightning IIs. Production has continued , without significant new problems popping up. BAD NEWS: In order for the F-35 program to continue, the U.S. Military may need to make some serious cuts to personnel .   U.S. sequestration mandated "furloughs" will undoubtedly slow down F-35 flight testing and development. The software still has bugs and is provin...