Netherlands to send final F-16 fighter jet to Ukraine Monday, fulfilling 24-jet pledge

The Netherlands will send its last F-16 fighter jet to Ukraine on Monday, Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced Sunday during the television program WNL op Zondag. With this delivery, all 24 Dutch F-16s pledged to Ukraine will have been transferred.

The first Dutch F-16s arrived in Ukraine last year as part of international support efforts. Alongside the Netherlands, countries including Denmark, Belgium, France, and Norway have also promised fighter jets to Kyiv.

Despite this support, Ukraine has already lost two F-16s in the ongoing war with Russia. Overnight,Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine in weeks, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens, as nearly 300 drones and 69 missiles struck multiple cities, including Kyiv, NOS reports.

Ukrainian pilots receive their training at the European F-16 Training Center located at the Romanian airbase in Fetesti. To facilitate this training, the Netherlands donated 18 F-16s to Romania, enhancing the country’s capacity to support Ukrainian pilot education.