Through an official statement published yesterday, the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands announced that it has formally completed the delivery of 18 F-16 fighters to Romania, which will now join the aircraft already operating at the European Training Center where future Ukrainian and Romanian pilots are trained. This transfer is part of the assistance Amsterdam has committed to support Kyiv in its war effort against the Russian invasion, serving as a key element in the final stage of training for Ukrainian Air Force personnel before entering combat with the U.S.-made aircraft.
It is worth recalling that the first five aircraft from the fleet previously belonging to the Royal Netherlands Air Force have been operating at the European Training Center since 2023, with the Dutch government being one of its main driving forces. What was finalized recently, in addition to the delivery of the aircraft themselves, was the signing of the formal transfer documents placing the full fleet under Romanian ownership. This took place in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, and was attended by the country’s Director General of Armaments, Brigadier General Ion Cornel Pleșa, and Dutch Ministry of Finance official Linda Ruseler.
Commenting on the matter, Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans stated: “The training center is a paradigm of successful cooperation. We are working with Romania and Lockheed Martin in a unique way to train Romanian and Ukrainian pilots. It is wonderful that our former F-16s have received a valuable second life at the EFTC. The Ukrainian pilots trained here are already contributing significantly to the protection of their country against the horrific Russian air attacks.”
Highlighting the importance of formally completing the transfer, the official communication noted that Romania is also currently advancing in the acquisition of its own fleet of F-16 fighters to strengthen and modernize its Air Force in the face of a persistent threat on its eastern borders. To receive the necessary qualifications to operate them, the institution’s pilot candidates train at the European Training Center, which not only accelerates their familiarization with the aircraft but also facilitates the exchange of tactics and procedures with NATO allies.
In the case of Ukrainian personnel, training at the facility has taken place since September 2024, marking the final stage after receiving instruction on Alphajet advanced trainers in France and GROB-115 basic trainers in the United Kingdom. Once in Ukrainian territory, pilots possess the required skills to operate the F-16s donated by various Western allies, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Norway.
Regarding the Dutch contribution, it is important to recall that Amsterdam committed a total fleet of 42 F-16s manufactured by Lockheed Martin. In addition to the 18 aircraft assigned to the European Training Center, another 24 have been allocated to the Ukrainian Air Force for combat use, with several operational precedents already recorded under the institution’s pilots. The Royal Netherlands Air Force, like its allied counterparts, has advanced in acquiring fifth-generation F-35 stealth aircraft to enable these transfers without creating capability gaps.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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