Article Posted on : - Oct 04, 2010

A file photo of F-16 fighter bombers

SANTIAGO, CHILE (BNS): The Chilean Air Force will receive first three of its 18 F-16 fighter bombers from Netherlands by the end of 2010, according to a media report.

The refurbished F-16s will be delivered to Chile at the Leeuwarden Air Base in Netherlands.

75 maintenance engineers will get training from Netherlands to provide support for the aircraft once they arrive in Chile.

In April 2009, the then Defence Minister Francisco Vidal of Chile had signed a $270 million deal with Netherlands for the refurbishment of F-16 fighter bombers.

According to the report, Chilean Air Force will have a fleet of 44 fighter bombers by 2011.