Dutch F‑16 jets arrive in Ukraine, bolstering defense efforts
Another F-16 fighter jet has arrived in Ukraine. This time, it's the first of the 24 aircraft promised by the Netherlands, as officially announced by the Dutch Ministry of Defense. According to their statement, the remaining aircraft will be delivered "in the coming months." The delivery of Western fighter jets is happening gradually, and the F-16s are still being kept away from the front lines for several significant reasons.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans confirmed the transfer of the first Dutch F-16 fighter to Ukraine during his visit to Kharkiv on October 6th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. He posted on platform X: "For the first time, I can officially announce that the first Dutch F-16 fighters have arrived in Ukraine. This is an urgent need." Brekelmans also discussed further cooperation plans with Kyiv. The Netherlands has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth approximately $420 million, which will support the development and production of the latest drones.
Ukraine receives support from the Netherlands
"The Netherlands previously played a pioneering role in delivering F-16 aircraft and Patriot systems, and now we're continuing this effort in the area of advanced drones, investing approximately $420 million in an action plan concerning drones. This pertains to all kinds of advanced drones that can be used for reconnaissance, defense, and attack, particularly in the air, but also on land and sea," emphasized Ruben Brekelmans.
According to the politician, the experiences related to the development of unmanned systems gained in Ukraine will also be valuable for enhancing high-quality technology in the Netherlands. "If Dutch knowledge and technology are combined with Ukrainian battlefield experiences, it will result in innovative and effective drones. They can really make a difference on the rapidly changing battlefield," he added.
F-16 fighters in Ukraine
The first F-16 fighters arrived in Ukraine between late July and early August, with an estimated 6 to 10 aircraft. Since then, Ukraine has officially confirmed the loss of one unit, which was most likely due to pilot error and not a Russian attack. Notably, in late July 2024, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported that only six Ukrainian pilots had been trained to fly F-16s, which limits their combat flight capabilities.
As explained at the time in an interview with WP Tech by former Polish land forces commander Gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak: "The rule is that a pilot carries out two combat sorties within a day of fighting, known as aircraft sorties. This is due to, among other things, physical and psychological conditions, as well as many other factors." He also added: "At present, these will be [editorial note: at the operational level] very episodic and very limited actions, because six pilots in a day of fighting can have 12 sorties. That is very little."
Pilot training takes considerable time because Ukrainians are transitioning from older Soviet-era aircraft like the MiG-29 and need to adjust to operating more advanced Western systems. Additionally, language issues often arise, and the perspective on the "organism," which refers to the pilot and the aircraft as a unit, needs to be changed. More modern fighters require different actions and responses than the older MiGs. Ukrainian pilot training lasted only a few months, whereas, for comparison, Polish pilots trained to operate these aircraft for about two years.
The small number of aircraft and the fact that pilots are still learning how to operate the F-16s mean that, for now, these planes are not being used in advanced and risky missions far from their bases. This is also due to the lack of weapons that would allow them to attack enemy targets at significant distances. Their role is primarily to support the country's air defense and relieve ground systems, particularly around Kyiv.
