Civil agressor Flankers for the Netherlands?

[Bart]

A foreighn friend of mine asked me on the Kecskemét repülönap if I new anything about the ECA-program.
A Dutch company situated next to Woensdrecht was busy to start a busines in becoming a Civil Agressor unit with Russian Aircraft, like the Su-27.
A lot of "details" about this program can be found on their website: http://www.eca-program.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I had no clue that something big was going on in our little country, it just sounds a little strange and I have my doubts if it's true.
Can somebody confirm this program?
Thanks in advance,
Bart

[K2G]

A foreighn friend of mine asked me on the Kecskemét repülönap if I new anything about the ECA-program.
A Dutch company situated next to Woensdrecht was busy to start a busines in becoming a Civil Agressor unit with Russian Aircraft, like the Su-27.
A lot of "details" about this program can be found on their website: http://www.eca-program.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I had no clue that something big was going on in our little country, it just sounds a little strange and I have my doubts if it's true.
Can somebody confirm this program?
Thanks in advance,
Bart

I have heard about is, also some former Dutch F-16 pilots are involved. One of the base will be Keflavik. The aircraft will be a combination of Su-27's and some Su-30's...(before delivery they will be overhauled in Belarus).

I think the stories is true, but if it ever will happened ......... !! I hope so, maybe I can switch from F-16 maintenance to Flanker maintenance, if a RNlAF F-16 base will be closed )-:

Hans

[wonju666]

I spoke to a former Dutch AF pilot recently (nowadays he's in the contractor business): he disclosed that retired general Dick Berlijn is deeply involved in this firm. Keflavik was mentioned as a main base to operate from with a certain amount of Flankers for OPFOR use.

[flying_kiwi]

I spoke to a former Dutch AF pilot recently (nowadays he's in the contractor business): he disclosed that retired general Dick Berlijn is deeply involved in this firm. Keflavik was mentioned as a main base to operate from with a certain amount of Flankers for OPFOR use.

I'm pretty sure that it isn't Dick Berlijn thats involved, unless something has changed recently. There is however another person with the same surname involved, maybe that's resulted in some confusion.

[SquAdmin]

De fighters zouden inderdaad naar Keflavik gaan:
http://www.grapevine.is/News/ReadArticl ... -Deal-Made" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jammer, Woensdrecht had leuker geweest...

[Stratofreighter]

There is however another person with the same surname involved, maybe that's resulted in some confusion.

Perhaps his brother Peter

[Otto]

Heard the same story. Also heard some former display pilots could be involved.

So what about moving to Iceland Crizz

[RogierV]

De link die Squadmin plaatste heeft het over 200 billion ISK die ECA geboden zou hebben voor het gebruik van Keflavik. Dat zou ongeveer 900 miljoen euro zijn!

Voor dat bedrag mogen ze van mij ook op Woensdrecht komen te staan.

[Polecat]

..ik hoop dat het een stiekeme evaluatie is voor de opvolging van....

[Thermal]

a certain amount of Flankers for OPFOR use.

Interesting, looks like the first mercanary fighter squardon is coming ever closer. Although this idea seems a a bit far fetched at the moment if you ask me.

But first E.I.S. Aircraft GmbH with their A-4's at Wittmund, now this. I would not be surprised if this trend develops in the next few decades. Commercial companies that hire their fast jets to the highest bidder. Now it's for training purposes. In a few years from now the real deal (purely for defensive purposes ofcourse ? Plenty of money (Middle East) and lots of countries (China, Russia etc) available to acquier fast modern jets from.

Look at Iraq, the work of enlisted soldiers being done by ex-soldiers from private commercial companies for quite a few years now. People thought that was weird too but now it's very common.

Let's see where this goes.

[Bart]

I'm sorry to bring the sad news that the program has been canceled. :grumble

[wonju666]

Look at Iraq, the work of enlisted soldiers being done by ex-soldiers from private commercial companies for quite a few years now. People thought that was weird too but now it's very common.

We Dutch practically invented mercenarism when we hired Swiss guys to do our dirty work a couple of hundred years ago. So nothing new here! Only an increase. During the Iraq war a lot of firms made use of the legal void which didn't take proper account of these so called private security companies. That is changing slowly at the moment. As for training; a lot of firms have been in this business for a long time; ATAC, Flight Systems etc etc

[aviodromefriend]

I'm sorry to bring the sad news that the program has been canceled. :grumble

Any source? Their website is not saying anything about that. (Of course, why should they say their program fell through?)

[Bart]

A friend,
Bart

[LV84]

Thats a verry clear source, can your source also support is claim?