Defence

Lockheed Martin has won a contract to modernise 18 ex-Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16A/Bs destined for Chile, although the Netherlands defence ministry says the fighter sale is “still under negotiation”.

Lockheed will remove certain capabilities to enable the aircraft to comply with US weapons system releasability requirements. The US Department of Defense says the modifications include “removal of strike and HARM [high-speed anti-radiation missile] capability”. The Dutch aircraft were not included in the country’s F-16 Mid-Life Upgrade programme.

The modification programme is worth $7.5 million, of which $4.4 million has already been paid to Lockheed.