As part of the continued advancement of the F-35 Global Support Solution strategy, the US Department of Defense has assigned F-35 regional warehousing capability in the European and Pacific regions to the Netherlands and Australia. These overseas warehouse and distribution centers will enable the F-35 program to optimize and manage aviation inventory. “Our mission is to deliver and sustain an affordable, capable and combat-ready F-35 weapon system that provides the U.S. and International warfighters with a dominate battlefield advantage,” said Vice Admiral Mat Winter, F-35 Program Executive Officer. “To do that successfully, the U.S. Services and our allies need to have the right parts delivered at the right time and having a solid warehousing plan helps to make it happen.”

The Netherlands was already selected in 2016 as the first location outside the United States to test engines for the F-35 program. The maintenance workshop and test facility for engines powering F-35 Lightning II aircraft is scheduled to open in 2019. It will be used by F-35 engines of the Dutch and Italian militaries, but may be made available to others later on. The test facility will be located in Woensdrecht, with equipment, spare parts and training provided by engine manufactuer Pratt & Whitney.