From now on, the Dutch armed forces will have to make do without tanks and with fewer fighter jets, helicopters and mine hunters. Some of the military equipment on the chopping block will be decommissioned on Monday; the first step in a radical reorganisation announced by Defence Minister Hans Hillen last month.
Armed forces commander General Peter van Uhm will attend the decommissioning of 14 Cougar transport helicopters at the Gilze-Rijen airforce base. Elsewhere, 60 Leopard tanks, 19 F-16 fighter jets and four mine hunters will be put into long-term storage.
The defence ministry promises to try to find suitable positions for the hundreds of personnel who are now out of a job because their units have been scrapped.
Minister Hillen plans to make structural budget cuts of one billion euros in the next four years. Nearly 12,000 out of a total of 69,000 staff members will be made redundant, with about 6,000 facing involuntary dismissal.
(gsh/ae/imm)
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
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