Aircraft

All three projects intended to increase the transport capacity of the Royal Netherlands Air Force have suffered fresh delays, says Dutch undersecretary of defence Jack de Vries.

Overhaul and cockpit upgrade work on an ex-United Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10 transport had been scheduled to conclude in 2008, but development issues and the lack of documentation required to enable military aviation authorities to certificate its airworthiness will delay this until mid-2009.

The transport will enable the air force to focus its two existing KDC-10s on air-to-air refuelling tasks, although these will undergo the same cockpit upgrade in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

Two former US Navy Lockheed Martin C-130 tactical transports had also been due for acceptance by year-end, but the lack of available parts and the unexpected need to replace the majority of their wiring has pushed this out until the third or fourth quarter of 2009.

They will then receive a cockpit upgrade and cabin safety improvements before achieving operational status in late 2009 or early 2010.

The delivery schedule for six Boeing CH-47F Chinooks for the Netherlands' Defence Helicopter Command has also slipped by at least six months, with De Vries saying: "It is expected that due to problems with the software the production will take longer." The first aircraft is now expected to be accepted in December 2009 and the remainder to follow within a further six months. Boeing declined to comment on the statement, referring questions to the Dutch defence ministry.