Ukraine Receives New Batch of F-16s from the Netherlands as France Delivers Mirage 2000 Fighters
Ukrainian Air Force Adds More F-16 MLU Jets Donated by the Netherlands, Key to Its Transition to NATO Standards
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On the same day that France announced the delivery of the first Mirage 2000 jets to Ukraine, the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the arrival of a new batch of F-16 MLU fighters, previously operated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
These new Fighting Falcons add to those already delivered by Denmark, which have been deployed in air defense missions. Ukraine is believed to have lost at least one F-16 in combat against Russian forces.
Ukraine Strengthens Air Defense with F-16s and Mirage 2000s
"These modern combat aircraft are now in Ukraine and will soon begin combat missions, strengthening our defense and enhancing our ability to effectively resist Russian aggression," said Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, referring to the arrival of both the Mirage 2000 and the F-16s.
Umerov emphasized that the Netherlands’ support is crucial for reinforcing Ukraine’s air defense, protecting its cities, and accelerating the transition of the Ukrainian Air Force to NATO standards.
"We continue working systematically with our partners to increase the number of modern fighter jets in Ukraine. I am grateful to our allies for their trust, determination, and unwavering support," he added.
Netherlands Leads Fighter Jet Deliveries to Ukraine
The Netherlands, alongside the United States and Denmark, leads the Air Force Capability Coalition, an initiative focused on supplying fighter jets to Ukraine. Its primary goal is to deliver around 80 F-16 MLU aircraft and provide pilot and ground crew training at various European facilities, including the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania.
The Netherlands played a key role in establishing the EFTC and has allocated 24 F-16s for its operations.
At this time, the exact number of aircraft received in this delivery remains unknown, as does whether they were sourced from the EFTC fleet.
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