Dutch F‑16s bolster Ukraine's air defence with strategic aid

Another F-16 fighter jet has arrived in Ukraine. This marks the first of 24 aircraft promised by the Netherlands, as officially announced by the Dutch Ministry of Defence. According to their statement, the remaining aircraft will be delivered "in the coming months." The delivery of Western fighter jets is occurring gradually, and the F-16s are still being kept from the front lines. There are several important reasons for this.

Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans confirmed the transfer of the first Dutch F-16 fighter to Ukraine during his visit to Kharkiv on 6th October at 7:00 PM Greenwich Mean Time. He wrote on platform X: "For the first time, I can officially announce that the first Dutch F-16s have been delivered to Ukraine." Brekelmans also spoke about plans to further cooperate with Kyiv. The Netherlands has announced that it will provide Ukraine with a new military aid package worth approximately €406 million, which will assist in developing and producing the latest drones.

The Netherlands has been a leader in supplying F-16 aircraft and Patriot systems in the past, and we are now extending these efforts to advanced drones, with an investment of around €406 million in a drone action plan. This initiative covers a wide range of sophisticated drones designed for reconnaissance, defense, and offensive operations, primarily in the air but also for use on land and at sea, highlighted Ruben Brekelmans.

According to the politician, the experiences related to the development of unmanned systems gained in Ukraine will also be valuable for high-quality technology in the Netherlands. "If Dutch knowledge and technology is combined with the Ukrainian experience on the battlefield, it will lead to innovative and effective drones. They can really make a difference on the rapidly changing battlefield," he added.

The first F-16 fighters arrived in Ukraine between late July and early August. There were likely six to ten aircraft. Since then, Ukraine has officially confirmed the loss of one unit. The aircraft was most likely destroyed not due to a Russian attack but because of pilot error. It is worth recalling that at the end of July 2024, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported that only six Ukrainian pilots had been trained to fly F-16s. This number translates into the capability to carry out combat flights.

Former land forces commander Gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak explained: "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 and many other factors." He added: "At present, these will be actions [editorial note: at the operational level] of a very episodic and very limited nature 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 must adjust to operating more advanced Western systems. Additionally, there are often language issues and the need to change the perspective on the "organism," which is the pilot and the aircraft they fly. More modern fighters require different actions and responses compared to the older MiGs. Ukrainian pilot training lasted only a few months, whereas, for comparison, pilots from other countries are trained to operate these aircraft for about two years.

The small number of aircraft and pilots who are still learning how to operate the F-16s means that, for now, these planes are not being involved in advanced and risky missions far from their bases (which is also due to the absence of weapons that would allow them to attack enemy targets at significant distances). Their role is primarily to support the country's air defence and relieve ground systems directly, particularly around Kyiv.