Summary: The Netherlands has delivered the first U.S.-made F-16 Fighting Falcons to Ukraine, part of the 24 jets pledged to support Kyiv's war effort against Russia.

-Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans confirmed the delivery, emphasizing the urgency given Russian airstrikes.

-Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov expressed deep gratitude for the support. Ukrainian pilots are training on the F-16s in Romania.

-Additionally, the Netherlands has pledged €400 million for the development of unmanned combat systems, including drones that have been effectively used by Ukraine in various military operations.

Netherlands Delivers F-16s to Ukraine Amid Intensified Russian Airstrikes

The Netherlands Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans confirmed on Sunday that the first U.S.-made F-16 Fighting Falcons pledged by his nation to aid Kyiv's war effort have arrived in Ukraine.

"For the first time, I can officially announce that the first Dutch F-16s have been delivered to Ukraine. This is urgently needed. In Kharkiv, I saw the damage from Russian airstrikes and heard frequent air raid alarms.

The rest of the 24 jets will follow in the coming months," Brekelmans wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov praised the Dutch people for coming to his country's aid.

"I am deeply grateful for the comprehensive assistance the Netherlands provides in defending against Russian aggression. The F-16 jets in our skies are proof of the steadfast support from the people and government of the Kingdom," said Umerov.

It was in August that the first F-16s from NATO ally Denmark began to arrive in Ukraine, and those aircraft have already been used to counter Russian drone and missile strikes on civilian population centers and critical infrastructure. While the aircraft have largely operated far from the frontlines, a Fighting Falcon was lost in late August – likely due to pilot error.

Ukraine's pilots took part in an abridged training program to operate the all-weather multirole combat aircraft, and there have been concerns that they haven't received enough time getting accustomed to the Fighting Falcons. However, the amount of training could increase as Ukrainian pilots are now receiving their instruction at the newly installed NATO F-16 facility at the Fetesti Air Base in eastern Romania. It was set up late last year with assistance from Lockheed Martin to train Romanian Air Force (RoAF) pilots on the Fighting Falcon. Bucharest received a batch of refurbished F-16s from NATO ally Norway that will replace its aging Soviet-era MiG-21s.

The Drone Action Plan

The NATO member had previously announced it would supply 24 Fighting Falcons, while it also has pledged to provide €400 million ($439 million) that will be used to help with the development of unmanned combat systems (UCS) that can be employed in reconnaissance as well as combat operations. Most of the drones will be unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) but some will be unmanned surface vessels (USVs).

Both types of drones have already been widely employed by Kyiv's forces, and have been used to target Russian assets on the frontlines, but have also been used to strike distant targets including Russian warships in the Black Sea and even Russian cities. The capital of Moscow has come under multiple drone attacks, while UAVs have been used to strike Russian Aerospace Force's aircraft on the ground in bases hundreds of miles from the frontlines. 

"We agreed to strengthen cooperation within the aviation coalition, particularly regarding crew training and the supply of weapons and parts for the aircraft. Together with our team, we called on partners to further invest in Ukraine's defence production," added Umerov.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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