Dutch Parliament Clears F-35 Purchase

The Dutch Parliament has ratified the government’s choice of the F-35 as the Netherlands next-generation fighter, putting an end to a 15-year debate.

The vote on whether the stealthy plane will replace the Dutch fleet of F-16s occurred the evening of Nov. 7.

The first Dutch F-35 takes to the skies. The Dutch Parliament voted Nov. 7 to purchase the F-35 as their next-generation fighter

“This is a very important moment in history: Finally we can give clarity to our military and to our international partners,” Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the Dutch minister of defense, said in a statement released by the government. “With this choice for the F-35, we provide the Dutch Armed Forces with the best aircraft available to deal with the challenges of our time and of the future.”

Both Lockheed Martin, prime contractor on the plane, and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney reacted positively to the news.

“Lockheed Martin is honored that the Netherlands Government has selected the F-35 as the F-16 replacement,” Lockheed Martin said in a company statement. “We are proud that for more than 30 years, the Royal Netherlands Air Force has owned and operated Lockheed Martin aircraft. Flying the F-35 will represent the next chapter of our partnering by providing the very best aircraft capabilities possible for Netherlands’ national security. Dutch Industry is currently involved in designing and manufacturing the F-35 and this program provides high technology jobs and long-term technology benefits to the Netherlands.”

“Pratt & Whitney is honored to be part of the Dutch government’s selection of the F135-powered F-35 Lightning II, and we look forward to supporting the Royal Netherlands Air Force and Dutch aerospace industry,” said Tyler Evans, director of international business development at Pratt & Whitney Military Engines.

,” Joe DellaVedova, spokesman for the F-35 Joint Program Office, said.

The Dutch government selected the fifth-generation fighter Sept. 17, releasing a statement calling the plane “a well-considered choice for a high-tech, future-oriented air force.’

The purchase will be for 37 of the F-35A conventional-take-off-and-landing variants, which will be the most widely produced model of the jet. The US Air Force intends to purchase more than 1,700 F-35As

The Dutch have budgeted €4.5 billion (US $6 billion) for the F-35, which they believe will cover the 37 planes — a nmber the government’s statement says could grow.

“If, within the given financial parameters, there is room to purchase more aircraft in the coming years, the Netherlands will do so,” the statement read.

The Netherlands has already purchased two F-35A variants, while the first Dutch pilot is currently in training school at Eglin Air Force Base.

Nine countries are partner nations on the F-35 program, including the Netherlands. But countries that sign on as partners are not automatically guaranteed to purchase the planes. Other partner nations that have yet to commit to the jet include Denmark, which hopes to select a fighter by mid-2015, and Canada, whose decision to purchase the F-35 has been frozen due to a political scandal.

hilippines To Buy 8 AgustaWestland Attack Helicopters

The Philippine military is buying eight AW109 Power helicopters from Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland for 3.4 billion pesos

The poorly-equipped Philippine military said Thursday it is buying eight helicopters from Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland for 3.4 billion pesos ($78.7 million) to help in the fight against guerrillas.The eight AW 109 Power helicopters will be used mainly to support troops in battling insurgents but can also be used for maritime patrols and “territorial defense,” said air force spokesman Col. Miguel Okol.“These will be armed helicopters for close air support ... in general, it is for internal security operations,” he said.The twin-engine helicopters will be an improvement over the military’s aging fleet of US-made MG-520 attack helicopters since they will be able to carry more men and weapons and will be night-vision capable, he added.The Defense Department said the contract was for 3.4 billion pesos but gave no further details.Air force vice commander Maj. Gen. Raul Dimatatac said the new helicopters were urgently needed as the Philippines only had about seven MG-520 attack helicopters still flying.AgustaWestland said on its website that deliveries of the helicopters would begin next year.The Philippine military is battling both a 4,000-strong communist insurgency in the hinterland as well as various Muslim guerrilla groups in the southern island of Mindanao. a territorial dispute with China over parts of the South China Sea.Earlier this year, the navy announced it was acquiring three naval versions of the AW 109 Power helicopter.
The cash-strapped Philippines has one of the weakest militaries in Southeast Asia but has been seeking in recent months to obtain new equipment.

US To Spend Billions 'Modernizing' Nuclear Arsenal

The United States plans to spend billions to upgrade a decades-old atomic bomb designed to stop a Soviet invasion of Europe, as part of a controversial project to modernize its nuclear arsenal.

Some lawmakers and experts dismiss the effort as a colossal waste of money that could derail arms control talks with Russia.

But top commanders and government officials argue the B61 nuclear gravity bomb needs to be maintained so other weapons can be scrapped and to ensure America retains a “credible” force.

An undated file picture shows a B-2 Spirit Bomber dropping a B61-11 bomb casing from an undisclosed location. 

“The B61 is the only weapon in the stockpile that fulfills both tactical and strategic missions,” General Robert Kehler, head of Strategic Command, told a congressional hearing last week.

Designed as a short-range “tactical” weapon to deter Soviet forces from overrunning Western Europe, the bomb has been in service for the US Air Force since the 1970s.

There are five versions of the bomb, which has an estimated yield of 0.3 to 360 kilotons, equivalent to 360,000 tons of TNT.

Washington removed thousands of tactical atomic weapons from Europe after the Cold War ended. But 180 of the B61 bombs remain in Europe, the only American nuclear weapon still deployed on the continent, at NATO bases in Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.

Under President Barack Obama’s planned upgrade, the various models of the bomb would be replaced by a modified version, the B61-12, which would have a smaller yield and more accuracy.

Pakistan army shows its might by brining down drone during military exercise

ISLAMABAD: Amid continued tensions with the US over drone strikes, Pakistan army has successfully shot down a "drone" during a military exercise that was watched by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. 

The event also marked the culmination of five-year series of exercises jointly conducted by the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force at firing range in Khairpur Tamewali, about 75 kilometres from international borders.

During the "Azm-e-Nau 4 Exercise" atBahawalpur in Punjab province yesterday, the army air defence demonstrated its anti-drone technology by successfully bringing down a drone by targeting it with the 35mm Oerlikon guns, The News daily said. 

The event also marked the culmination of five-year series of exercises jointly conducted by the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force at firing range in Khairpur Tamewali, about 75 kilometres from international borders. 

The drones are an emotional issue in the country and the public opinion has been further divided with the latest strike by a CIA- operated spy plane on Friday that killed Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud. 

Pakistani politicians, except a few handful, have criticised the strike saying it was deliberately done to scuttle the peace talks with the Taliban. 

However, security analysts and former military officers are happy that Pakistan's number one enemy has been killed. 

The drone strike had renewed calls from some sections of the political and religious class to shoot down the US operated unmanned plane. 

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, who arrived at a helipad near the firing range in Cholistan desert, was received by Kayani.