(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 2, 2011: The final batch of surplus refurbished F-16s left Volkel Air Base on Monday, 29 August 2011 heading to there new home in Chile. Thus ending a contract agreed between the governments of the Netherlands and Chile in early June 2009.
This batch of six aircraft from a total of 18 fighters marks the end of a long transfer process, as agreed between the governments of the Netherlands and Chile in early June 2009. On Monday, five aircraft took off from their former home base; one straggler, which could not leave on time, followed the next day.The sale of Dutch surplus F-16 Mid-life Upgrade (MLU) fighters to Chile began on 1 June 2010 with the official hand-over of the first F-16s to the Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aérea de Chile, FACh). However, the aircraft were first refurbished in the Netherlands. The first batch of six aircraft left on 5 November 2010. A second batch, bound for Chile, took off from Volkel on 6 April 2011.
This is the second sales agreement for F-16s between the two countries after a first contract had been signed in 2006 for the same number of aircraft, following Dutch efforts to cut military expenses by reducing their inventory.
This brings the number of former Dutch F-16 MLUs in the Chilean inventory to 36 aircraft. Twenty-nine of these aircraft feature the “A” single-seat configuration, while seven aircraft are delivered in the “B” two-seat version. Further, the Chilean Air Force operates 10 F-16C/D Block 50, which entered service in 2007, making the Lockheed Martin-built aircraft the backbone of the country’s fighter fleet.
The total price for the purchase of the 18 aircraft in the 2009 agreement is estimated at around €100 million (some CLP 787 million). However, this sum has not been confirmed by the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD). Further, the agreement provided for the training of Chilean technicians by the Netherlands, as well as the delivery of related equipment. In April, an Il-76 transport aircraft delivered spare parts and navigation equipment for the F-16s to Chile.
According to the Dutch MoD, the latest sale of F-16s has reduced the number of combat aircraft in the Dutch Air Force from 105 to 87, including 14 for training purposes. Earlier this year, the government decided to further reduce the ageing F-16 fleet to only 68 aircraft.
The 2009 agreement with Chile equally results from austerity measures, decided in 2007, seeking to generate additional funds by selling surplus equipment, including artillery pieces, main battle tanks and fighter aircraft. In addition to the transfer of F-16s to Chile, the Netherlands sold nine surplus F-16s to the Kingdom of Jordan in 2007.
CHILEAN AIR FORCE - CURRENT INVENTORY (WIKIPEDIA)
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