The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified Congress of a potential sale of defence articles and services in support of the continuation of a Continental United States (CONUS) based Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) F-16 Formal Training Unit.
The estimated $110m sale has received approval from the US State Department and also includes 27 GBU-12 Inert Paveway IIs, PGU-27 inert training rounds, impulse cartridges, MJU-7/B Flares, RR-188 Chaff, BDU-33/B and BDU-50/B training munitions.
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The Netherlands has also requested for fuel and air refuelling support, airlift services, base operating support, facilities, publications and technical documentation, pilot training, personnel training and training equipment, weapon system and software support.
As part of the sale, the defence articles are expected to be delivered to the Netherlands from US stocks as and when required.
The RNLAF pilots will benefit from a ‘well-established’ pilot proficiency training programme at Tucson Air National Guard (ANG) Base. Instruction, flight operations, as well as maintenance support and facilities will be provided by Tucson ANG.
DSCA said in a statement that: “This potential sale will continue to improve the RNLAF’s ability to develop mission-ready and experienced pilots to support its F-16 aircraft inventory.”
The training in F-16 operations, tactics, techniques, and procedures will enable the RNLAF to deliver continuous contributions in support of Overseas Contingency Operations, Nato air policing missions and future coalitions operations.
