The Netherlands has fulfilled its pledge to provide 18 F-16 fighter jets, its defense ministry confirmed.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence announced Wednesday that the delivery of 18 F-16 fighter jets to a Romanian air base is complete. These aircraft will be used in the training of Ukrainian pilots.
The Netherlands is a member of the F-16 coalition, contributing retired aircraft to support Ukraine’s conflict with Russia.
The 86th Air Base in Romania hosts the training program, where Western instructors are teaching Ukrainian personnel to operate the jets. Initially used for Romanian pilot training, these F-16s are now dedicated to the Ukrainian training program.
Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans confirmed the delivery of all 18 F-16s to the facility.
Separately, the Netherlands has committed to supplying Ukraine with an additional 24 F-16s, with deliveries underway since October and expected to conclude within months.
Ukraine views NATO aircraft as potentially game-changing in the conflict, though the impact of the F-16s since their arrival in late July or early August remains unclear. Ukraine has acknowledged the loss of one aircraft due to what officials called pilot error.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan recently stated that providing more Western weaponry alone won’t alter the course of the conflict. In a Monday interview with PBS News, he noted the provision of tanks, F-16s, HIMARS, and Patriots, questioning their decisive impact on the battlefield. He argued that increased troop deployment to the front line is the key to addressing Ukraine’s current challenges.
Denmark, Belgium, and Norway have also pledged F-16s to Ukraine. Russia maintains that Western weaponry cannot change the war’s outcome, alleging that the US and allies aim to fight “to the last Ukrainian.”