Netherlands to Hold F-16 Farewell Ceremony

25 September, 2024 F-16 Block 20 MLU fighter of the Netherlands Air Force.

2009. Photo credits: Nigel Blake The Royal Netherlands Air Force will hold a farewell ceremony for its last F-16 fighter jets.

The Dutch Ministry of Defense stated the ceremony would take place on September 27, 2024. During the ceremony, the last few F-16s will fly a farewell tour over the Netherlands, taking off from Volkel Air Base. This farewell flight will mark 45 years of continuous operation of the F-16s in the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

At one time, the Royal Netherlands Air Force acquired many American aircraft--a total of 213 F-16A/Bs.

The route of the farewell flight of the Dutch F-16s on September 27, 2024

Downsizing then reduced the air fleet to 68 F-16A/B Block 15 aircraft, all of which were upgraded to the MLU standard. As of 2022, 29 F-16 fighter jets remained in service.

The country is now actively switching to the new American F-35 fighters. To date, the Dutch Ministry of Defense has ordered 52 F-35A fighters. Additional orders for 6 more aircraft are also planned.

F-35A with the numbers F-011 and F-012. Photo credits: Dutch media

The Netherlands became the eighth country in the world to adopt this type of aircraft.

The importance of the Dutch F-35A should be noted, as it was the first F-35 fighter in Europe to receive the appropriate certificate for the use of nuclear weapons.

The Netherlands has finalized a permit to export 24 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine as part of the Aviation Coalition.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky at the air base with F-16 in the Netherlands.

2023.

Photo credits: Rob Engelaar/EPA, via Shutterstock

Speaking of Ukraine's infrastructure readiness to receive aircraft, the Minister noted that "we are also moving according to plan."