7-Apr-2011 Source: HeliHub.com
Over 5,000 people in the Dutch military, both service personnel and civil servants, are facing compulsory redundancies. The government is expected to announce on Friday how it plans to make savings of €1bn in its defence budget. Sources are suggesting that the job losses will affect all ranks.
Defence minister Hans Hillen also plans to scrap the fleet of 17 Cougar helicopters, an unspecified number of tanks, and to cut around thirty F-16 fighter jets and to sell off a number of vessels operated by the Navy. The controversial purchase of a second JSF fighter jet for €100m is expected to be retained to protect the participation of Dutch firms in its development