Netherlands Stops F-16 Sale to U.S. Firm, Pledges Fighters to Ukraine

The Dutch government says it will now send two dozen fighter jets to bolster the war-torn country's air force.

Tuesday, February 06, 2024 at 12:45 PM ET

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With the pledge of additional fighters, The Netherlands is preparing 24 F-16s to send to Ukraine's air force, it said. [Courtesy: The Netherlands Ministry of Defense]

Key Takeaways:

The Netherlands is sending six additional F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, increasing its total commitment to 24 aircraft.
This decision aims to enhance Ukraine's aerial superiority in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
The F-16s are available as the Royal Netherlands Air Force has modernized its fleet by transitioning to F-35 fighters.
The six additional jets were previously planned for sale to Draken International, but this deal was withdrawn.

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The Netherlands is preparing six additional F-16 Fighting Falcons to send to Ukraine’s air force in support of the country’s ongoing fight against Russia, increasing its delivery to two dozen fighter jets, Dutch officials said Monday.

The aircraft are in addition to 18 Dutch fighters intended for the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) that opened in November to train Ukrainian and Romanian pilots.