The last F-16 fighter jets destined for Ukraine have left the Netherlands. The aircraft took off today from the Volkel airbase in the Netherlands and headed for Belgium, where they will be prepared for transfer. In total, the Netherlands has delivered 24 fighter jets to Ukraine.
This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands.
Minister Ruben Brekelman saw off the F-16s in Valkenburg today. He called it an important event.
“This is a nostalgic moment, as the F-16s have played a central role in our air force for decades. But now that we are saying goodbye to them anyway due to the transition to the F-35, I cannot imagine a better destination than Ukraine. Due to daily Russian air strikes, the F-16s are of vital importance to Ukraine. They allow it to keep Russian aggression at bay – for us as well,” he said.
Thanks to the F-16s, the Ukrainian armed forces have achieved a number of successes on the battlefield, including successfully shooting down cruise missiles and drones.
“In other words, they have already saved lives. F-16s provide better battlefield visibility and have a higher survival rate than the outdated Soviet aircraft flown by the Ukrainian Air Force,” the minister emphasized.
According to the ministry, the Netherlands’ participation in the F-16 program for Ukraine does not end there. Together with Denmark and the United States, the Netherlands leads the international F-16 coalition. It ensures the effective use of fighter jets by Ukraine. The Netherlands will also continue to provide a full package of support to keep the F-16s in the air. This includes training, spare parts, ammunition, and fuel.
In addition, pilots are being trained at the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania. The Netherlands also plans to set up a training center for ground personnel in that country. The EFTC uses 18 Dutch F-16s.
