While yesterday, February 6, was dominated by the arrival of the first Mirage 2000 fighters in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Air Force also confirmed the arrival of F-16 MLU fighters transferred from the Netherlands. Although no further details were provided, this new batch of aircraft represents the second officially announced delivery to Ukraine, following the first batch received in August 2024, which was transferred by Denmark.
Currently, while figures remain highly classified, the Ukrainian Air Force is progressing in the incorporation of up to 65 F-16 fighters from the air forces of Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. These aircraft, like those from Denmark, are still in active service, whereas the Dutch and Norwegian jets have already been retired, having been replaced in all cases by the new F-35 Lightning II.
Regarding the Netherlands, at the end of September, the Royal Netherlands Air Force officially confirmed the retirement of its Fighting Falcons. Just days later, it announced the start of the official transfer process for 24 aircraft.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans stated in early October: “For the first time, I can officially announce that the first Dutch F-16s have been delivered to Ukraine (…) This is an urgent necessity. In Kharkiv, I saw the damage caused by Russian airstrikes and frequently heard air raid alarms (…) The rest of the 24 fighters will be delivered over the coming months.” Additionally, alongside the aircraft, the Dutch government also committed to providing financial packages valued at €450 million and €80 million, respectively, for the acquisition of aircraft and spare parts.
The challenges of the conflict must also be acknowledged, including combat and operational losses. This was evident just days after the first batch arrived, when the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense confirmed the loss of the first F-16, tragically resulting in the death of its pilot.
Beyond yesterday’s official announcement, no further details were provided regarding this new batch of Western aircraft for Ukraine. However, reports—including those from official European sources—confirm that the process of integrating F-16s into the Ukrainian Air Force is ongoing, though not without challenges and difficulties. One of the main hurdles is training new groups of pilots on this platform, as many must undergo conversion courses to transition from aircraft with entirely different design and operational philosophies, such as the MiG-29, Su-27, and Su-24, which they have been operating for decades.
*Images used for illustration purposes.
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