Support Article Index : Current 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
 Latest
 News 		  Most
 Read 		  Most
 Commented		  Hot
 Topics

December 21, 2002

The Dutch Air Force is selling seven surplus, early model, F-16 fighters to AeroGroup International Corporation, an American company. The aircraft in question are two seat trainer aircraft that will be used by AeroGroup to provide OPFOR (opposing force) aircraft for training U.S. fighter pilots. AeroGroup was founded last year to provide a commercial source for electronic warfare and air combat training for NATO air forces. The Department of Defense is pushing the outsourcing of many functions, and air combat training is one of them. A private company like AeroGroup can hire highly experienced, and recently retired, air force and navy pilots and put them to work training less experienced pilots more cheaply than can the military.