Ukraine's Air Force Will Soon Have Even More F-16 Fighters

The Ukrainian Air Force is expanding its capabilities with the arrival of the first F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets from the Netherlands. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans confirmed that 24 F-16s are being transferred, with some already operational in Ukraine.

What You Need to Know: The Ukrainian Air Force is expanding its capabilities with the arrival of the first F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets from the Netherlands. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans confirmed that 24 F-16s are being transferred, with some already operational in Ukraine.

-This move is part of a broader effort by NATO countries—including Denmark, Norway, and Belgium—to supply Ukraine with modern fighter jets. In addition to the F-16s, Ukraine will receive upgraded Dassault Mirage 2000-5 aircraft from France starting in 2025.

-While integrating these Western-made aircraft requires extensive training and adaptation, they are expected to significantly enhance Ukraine's air superiority and ground-attack capabilities in its ongoing conflict.

Following the announcement that the French military will be delivering an unspecified number of Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to its Ukrainian partner starting in 2025, Kyiv will also be receiving several F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets.

F-16 Fighters: From the Netherlands to Ukraine

The Netherlands acknowledged that the transfer of 24 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is underway. Some aircraft have already arrived and are conducting operational sorties. 

“For the first time, I can officially announce that the first Dutch F-16s have been delivered to Ukraine,” Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said in a post on X. as he traveled, “This is urgently needed. In Kharkiv, I saw the damage from Russian airstrikes and heard frequent air raid alarms.”

“We agreed to enhance cooperation within the aviation coalition, including crew training and the supply of weapons and spare parts for aircraft,” Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said after his meeting with the Dutch defense minister.  

In addition to the F-16s, the Netherlands has provided Ukraine with MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems, Leopard 2 and Leopard 1 main battle tanks, artillery munitions, infantry fighting vehicles, as well as other military aid. 

The people of the Netherlands have not forgotten that Russia and its proxies were behind the shooting down of commercial flight Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 on board, most of whom were Dutch citizens. 

Ukraine is set to receive dozens of F-16 fighter jets from a group of NATO countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Norway. All in all, Ukraine will receive dozens of F-16s, but not all will be operational. Some of the aircraft the Ukrainian Air Force will receive are going to be used for spare parts to support the most modern versions of F-16s.

It's Not Just About Fighter Jets 

The NATO countries initiated the transfer process after the United States gave the green light. The U.S. and the United Kingdom have also helped in training Ukrainian pilots and maintainers on the F-16 aircraft. 

Transferring fighter jets to Ukraine isn’t the end. This is not just a new type of aircraft for the Ukrainian Air Force but also a completely new philosophy on combat aviation. Thus far, the Ukrainian military has operated Soviet and Russian made weapon systems and munitions. Aircraft made in the U.S. and the West are vastly different. So, the introduction of an American-made fighter jet to the Ukrainian arsenal requires a lot of training, even language training, before pilots and maintainers are ready to fight. 

The Ukrainian Air Force is modernizing its capabilities with new weapon systems and munitions. It will take some time before new aircraft and old systems work well together. But once they do, the Ukrainian military will have another powerful weapon to help it in its effort to break the operational deadlock and achieve an important breakthrough that would end this brutal war. 

About the Author: 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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