The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNAF) has rejigged its DFl203.8 million ($97 million) competition for near-real-time day/night reconnaissance pods for low and medium level operation because none of the offers met its overall specification.
State defence secretary Henk van Hoof told parliament that none of the bids meets the low level as well as the medium level requirement. Instead, six low level and 12 medium level pods will be bought.
A recent decision to acquire reconnaissance-capable unmanned air vehicles has also reduced the number of pods required from 24 to 18, and the number of ground stations from four to three.
The RNAF requires a single contractor responsible for the complete acquisition and its integration with the Lockheed Martin F-16. Eight companies are competing: El-Op, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin Fairchild Systems, Northrop Grumman, Recon Optical, Stork Aerospace, Terma Industries Grenaa, and Vinten.
The new systems will replace Orpheus and MARS pods used on F-16s of a dedicated reconnaissance squadron.
Source: Flight International
