Netherlands sends final batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine
Photo: The Netherlands sent the last batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine (Getty Images)
The Netherlands has sent the last batch of F-16 fighters designated for Ukraine. They took off from Volkel Air Base to Belgium, where they will be prepared for delivery, according to the Dutch Ministry of Defense.
According to the ministry, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans was present at Volkel Air Base. He called it a nostalgic moment, as the F-16s have played an important role for the Royal Netherlands Air Force for decades.
"But now, as we say goodbye after transitioning to the F-35, I could not imagine a better destination than Ukraine. Due to daily Russian airstrikes, the F-16s are vital for Ukraine. They enable them to hold back Russian aggression — and for us as well," the minister said.
He emphasized that in peacetime, training on these fighters takes years, but Ukrainian pilots and technicians have managed to master these aircraft "in record time."
According to him, the F-16s have already helped Ukrainian forces shoot down cruise missiles and drones, thereby saving lives. The minister added that these planes have better technical capabilities and higher survivability in combat compared to the Soviet aircraft Ukraine has been using so far.
The Dutch Ministry of Defense noted that in total, the Netherlands has transferred 24 fighters to Ukraine. They will also continue to provide everything necessary to maintain the F-16s — spare parts, ammunition, and fuel.
F-16s for Ukraine
The Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium have led the aviation coalition to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.
In July 2024, the Netherlands finalized the approval for the export of 24 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. By August, it was reported that Ukraine had received its first aircraft. However, it was not disclosed which countries supplied the jets or how many were delivered to the Ukrainian military.
That same month, Ukraine lost one of the received fighter jets — the first confirmed loss — during a large-scale Russian attack on August 26.
At the end of last year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a second batch of F-16s from Denmark had arrived in Ukraine.
Earlier this year, following a conversation with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Zelenskyy announced new F-16 deliveries.
