Dutch govt to join F-35 fighter test programme

AMSTERDAM Feb 29 (Reuters) - The Dutch government said on Friday it will take part in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme in 2011 and it will take a final decision in 2009 about the purchasae of two test aircraft.

The Dutch government said in a statement it raised its project budget by 206 million euros to 5.67 billion euros ($8.61 billion) as planes ordered early in the production process are usually more expensive than in later stages. (Reporting by Gilbert Kreijger)