Netherlands to train 26 Ukrainians for F-16 maintenance

These technical specialists are responsible for the fighter jets before takeoff and after returning to base. Their training will take place at an airbase and will continue until the end of April. The exact location of the airbase has not been disclosed.

The Ministry's press service stated that the responsibility for the final checks lies with the crew chiefs. After the startup and completion of all inspections, they remove the safety pins, including those for the landing gear and fuel tanks. After that, the F-16 can leave its shelter and take off. Even after landing, the crew chiefs take the aircraft from the pilot.

The Netherlands has taken the initiative to support the training of F-16 ground personnel, though the Dutch Ministry of Defense is not directly involved in the training.

Earlier, the Netherlands announced it would transfer 24 F-16s to Ukraine. Ukrainian pilots are being trained at the European F-16 training center in Romania, with 18 Dutch F-16s involved in the program.

F-16 pilot training

In 2023, the UK and the Netherlands announced that the United States was ready to approve the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.

Later, the US said that Washington would agree to transfer combat aircraft to Ukraine, provided they would not be used to strike Russian territory. Following this, several countries joined the effort to train Ukrainian pilots.

By August 2024, it was officially announced that F-16 fighter jets had arrived in Ukraine. The first planes were delivered by the Netherlands and Denmark. Additionally, Belgium confirmed it would transfer 30 F-16s by the end of 2028.

Recently, the UK Embassy in Ukraine reported that 200 Ukrainian aviators completed basic training for operating F-16 fighter jets in the UK.