TSAMTO, July 1. The Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands announced the approval of the sale of 12 F-16 "Fighting Falcon" fighters from the country's Air Force to Draken International LLc., whose headquarters are located at Lakeland Linder Airport (USA, Florida).
According to The Aviationist, the Dutch Parliament was informed on June 29 that the interdepartmental committee for the sale of military equipment, consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Defense, approved the sale of 12 F-16 aircraft to Draken International.
The corresponding contract for the sale of 12 F-16 units is planned to be signed in mid-2021, and the transfer of fighters and related equipment to Draken International will begin in 2022. The agreement includes an option to sell another 28 units of F-16. The second batch of aircraft is expected to be decommissioned by the Dutch Air Force in the period up to May 2024 as the new F-35 "Lightning-2"enters service.
In addition to approving the sale of 12 aircraft to Draken International, the Dutch Defense Ministry also agreed to transfer one F-16AM to Belgium for use as a source of spare parts. It is reported that this is an F-16 with the serial number J-624. Information about the numbers of 12 aircraft selected for Draken International is not yet available.
Draken International is a private company that purchases, certifies and applies used fighters for their use in training as an aggressor aircraft (Red Air), as well as provides other services for training pilots of the US Air Force and Navy (the US government has signed a contract with Draken International to perform "aggressor missions" during exercises of the Air Force and Navy of the country).
The F-16s decommissioned by the Dutch Air Force, including auxiliary equipment, will replenish the already impressive mixed fleet of Draken International, consisting of MB-339, MiG-21, A-4K/N, L-39, Mirage F. 1M and Cheetah.
