The Government says the drawn out process to sell 17 mothballed Skyhawk combat jets has moved up a gear.
The planes were decommissioned in 2001, and are stored outside at Blenheim's Woodbourne Air Base. They are covered in latex.
Defence Minister Phil Goff says the United States has agreed to fast track the approval procedure once a contract has been signed, which could happen within the next few months.
He says wo companies have put in bids of $110 million for the Skyhawks and 17 trainer aircraft.
Mr Goff says the development follows meetings two months ago at the Pentagon and last week in Wellington.
He also rejects a claim by the ACT Party that water is seeping through protective coating on the planes, devaluing them.
Mr Goff says the latex covering on three of the jets was torn during a recent storm, but there was no damage.
