Portuguese Air Force F-16 military fighter jets participate in NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission in Lithuanian airspace near Siauliai, on May 23, 2023. (Photo by PETRAS MALUKAS / AFP) (Photo by PETRAS MALUKAS/AFP via Getty Images)
This was announced by the Minister of Defense of the country, Kajsa Ollongren.
“The Netherlands Ministry of Defence is readying 6 additional F-16 fighter aircraft for delivery to Ukraine. This brings the total number to 24 F-16s.”, the statement said.
Thus, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will soon receive the first 24 aircraft from the Netherlands.
The Netherlands had halted negotiations for the potential sale of six F-16 fighters, which had been under consideration since 2021. After negotiations with the company Draken International, it was concluded that these F-16s would not be sold in the near future.
These six aircraft will be added to the 18 F-16s that are scheduled to be sent to Ukraine from December 2023.
Another 18 Dutch aircraft are designated for the F-16 training center in Romania.
Ukraine expects to receive over 70 American F-16 fighters from various countries, including the Netherlands (42 aircraft, some of which are training), Denmark (19 units), Norway (quantity undisclosed), and Belgium (a claimed transfer of several units).
In September, it became known that the Swedish government is considering the possibility of transferring Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters to Ukraine in the future.
On November 20, 2023, a delegation from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine presented to Western allies the concept of a new special structure for integrating F-16 fighters into the overall system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at a conference in Copenhagen.
Photo: Open sources
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