Netherlands Verifies Delivery of F-16s to Kiev
The Netherlands has announced the arrival of its F-16 fighter planes in Ukraine. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The first Dutch-donated fighter jets have reached Ukraine, according to Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
During a visit to Kiev and Kharkov on Sunday, Brekelmans shared new information regarding his country's military support for Ukraine. As a participant in the 'F-16 coalition,' the Netherlands pledged to send 24 US-made F-16 fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force over a year ago, although a specific delivery timeline was not provided.
“For the first time, I can officially announce that the first Dutch F-16s have been delivered to Ukraine,” the defense minister announced on X.
Brekelmans also revealed that Amsterdam will allocate €400 million towards the development of advanced drones for the Ukrainian military.
“This involves all kinds of advanced drones that can be used for reconnaissance, defense and attack. Especially in the air, but also on land and sea,” he explained in a statement on the Defense Ministry's website on Sunday.
Highlighting the critical role of drones in contemporary warfare, Brekelmans pointed out that progress in developing drone systems is occurring at a “lightning speed.”
“We don’t have the luxury of taking a long time; it’s about making speed. Procure prototypes, test them quickly and scale up production quickly,” he emphasized.
About half of the allocated funds will be utilized in the Netherlands, while the remainder will be distributed among Ukraine and other nations, Brekelmans informed Reuters during his visit.
Ukrainian officials contend that F-16s are essential to enhance their aerial capabilities and to counter Russian air attacks. Additionally, Ukraine has purportedly expressed concerns regarding the pace of training for its pilots in the US. In August, Kiev lost its first F-16 during a combat mission.
Since 2022, the Netherlands has provided Ukraine with more than €3.76 billion in military assistance. Earlier this year, Amsterdam announced plans to assemble a Patriot air defense missile system for Ukraine; however, authorities have faced challenges in securing spare parts from other countries, Brekelmans told Reuters.
Moscow has cautioned that no volume of foreign aid will alter the conflict's outcome and may heighten the risk of direct confrontation between Russia and NATO.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
During a visit to Kiev and Kharkov on Sunday, Brekelmans shared new information regarding his country's military support for Ukraine. As a participant in the 'F-16 coalition,' the Netherlands pledged to send 24 US-made F-16 fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force over a year ago, although a specific delivery timeline was not provided.
“For the first time, I can officially announce that the first Dutch F-16s have been delivered to Ukraine,” the defense minister announced on X.
Brekelmans also revealed that Amsterdam will allocate €400 million towards the development of advanced drones for the Ukrainian military.
“This involves all kinds of advanced drones that can be used for reconnaissance, defense and attack. Especially in the air, but also on land and sea,” he explained in a statement on the Defense Ministry's website on Sunday.
Highlighting the critical role of drones in contemporary warfare, Brekelmans pointed out that progress in developing drone systems is occurring at a “lightning speed.”
“We don’t have the luxury of taking a long time; it’s about making speed. Procure prototypes, test them quickly and scale up production quickly,” he emphasized.
About half of the allocated funds will be utilized in the Netherlands, while the remainder will be distributed among Ukraine and other nations, Brekelmans informed Reuters during his visit.
Ukrainian officials contend that F-16s are essential to enhance their aerial capabilities and to counter Russian air attacks. Additionally, Ukraine has purportedly expressed concerns regarding the pace of training for its pilots in the US. In August, Kiev lost its first F-16 during a combat mission.
Since 2022, the Netherlands has provided Ukraine with more than €3.76 billion in military assistance. Earlier this year, Amsterdam announced plans to assemble a Patriot air defense missile system for Ukraine; however, authorities have faced challenges in securing spare parts from other countries, Brekelmans told Reuters.
Moscow has cautioned that no volume of foreign aid will alter the conflict's outcome and may heighten the risk of direct confrontation between Russia and NATO.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
