THE HAGUE—The Dutch Audit Office says the Defence Ministry must provide parliament with better information about the costs of the US-made Joint Strike Fighter. The audit office says the Defence Ministry has presented the new fighter jet in a very positive light, but has failed to include some of the serious risks involved.

If other countries decided to buy fewer or no JSFs, which are to replace the ageing F16s currently in service in many countries, the unit price would go up. The audit office is also concerned about the costs because most figures regarding the test phase and the unit price are based on estimates.

Initial estimates in 1999 calculated costs at more than 4.5 billion EUR for 114 aircraft. By 2006, the price tag had gone up to 14.6 billion over 30 years for 85 aircraft, according to a report presented to the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) by the Netherlands Court of Audit.

Radio Netherlands/Expatica