Netherlands Plans F-16s Transfer to Ukraine This Fall

6 May, 2024 An F-16 fighter of the Netherlands Air Force at the Royal International Air Tattoo.

2022 year. The UK. Photo by Andy Reeve-Smith

The Netherlands plans to start sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this fall, following Denmark, which intends to deliver the planes in the summer. Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren stated this during a briefing in Vilnius. Ollongren stated that this is the schedule for the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine as envisioned by the allies' plan.

"We have everything planned according to the project, which involves training Ukrainian pilots, training maintenance personnel, and transferring real aircraft," she said. The Dutch Minister informed that Ukrainian pilots are currently undergoing training in a number of countries.

Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren

"And if we manage to stay on this path, and everything works in Ukraine, of course, in their own country, the first aircraft will be delivered by Denmark this summer. And we hope to participate in deliveries in the fall with our F16s," she added.

The Minister said that after the summer and beyond, "fighter jets will be sent to Ukraine in batches." Recently, the Danish ambassador to Kyiv, Ole Egberg Mikkelsen, said that he was optimistic about the arrival of F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine this summer. Previously, it became known that the Belgian government decided to accelerate the supply of its own F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and do so by the end of 2024, without waiting for the formation of a new cabinet of ministers.

The first F16 fighter jets will be in the Ukrainian skies in June 2024. As previously reported, the Dutch government will purchase aviation weapons for F-16 fighter jets, which will soon be transferred to Ukraine.

Mark 84 2,000-pound bombs with a JDAM kit in the background of F-16 fighters

The Netherlands will allocate over EUR150 million to purchase air-to-ground weapons for F-16 fighter jets awaiting delivery to Ukraine.