First Dutch F‑16 arrives in Ukraine amid new drone aid package

Another F-16 fighter has arrived in Ukraine. This time, it is the first of 24 aircraft promised by the Netherlands, as officially announced by the Dutch Ministry of Defence. According to their statement, the remaining aircraft will be delivered "in the coming months." The delivery of Western fighter jets is happening gradually, and the F-16s are still being kept away from the front line. There are several significant reasons for this.

Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans confirmed the transfer of the first Dutch F-16 fighter to Ukraine during his visit to Kharkiv on October 6th, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. As he wrote on platform X: "For the first time, I can officially announce that the first Dutch F-16s have been delivered to Ukraine." Brekelmans also informed us about further cooperation plans with Kyiv. The Netherlands has announced that it will provide Ukraine with a new military aid package worth approximately CAD 570 million, which will help develop and produce the latest drones.

The Netherlands previously played a pioneering role in the delivery of F-16 aircraft and Patriot systems, and now we continue this activity in advanced drones, investing approximately CAD 570 million in an action plan concerning drones. This pertains to advanced drones that can be used for reconnaissance, defence, and attack. Particularly in the air, but also on land and sea, emphasized Ruben Brekelmans.

According to the politician, the experiences related to the development of unmanned systems gained in Ukraine will also be valuable for high-quality technology in the Netherlands. "If Dutch knowledge and technology is combined with the Ukrainian experience on the battlefield, it will lead to innovative and effective drones. They can really make a difference on the rapidly changing battlefield," he added.

The first F-16 fighters arrived in Ukraine between late July and early August. There were likely 6 to 10 aircraft. Since then, Ukraine has officially confirmed the loss of one unit. The aircraft was most likely destroyed not due to a Russian attack but due to a pilot error. It is worth recalling that at the end of July 2024, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported that only six Ukrainian pilots had been trained to fly F-16s, which limits their capability to carry out combat flights.

As explained by former land forces commander Gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak: -  the rule is that a pilot carries out two combat sorties within a day of fighting, known as aircraft sorties. This is due to, among other things, physical and psychological conditions, as well as many other factors. He added: -  at present, these will be actions [editorial note: at the operational level] of a very episodic and very limited nature, because six pilots in a day of fighting can have 12 sorties. That is very little.

Pilot training takes time because Ukrainians are transitioning from older, Soviet-era aircraft like the MiG-29 and must adjust to operating more advanced Western systems. Additionally, there are often language issues and the need to change the perspective on the "organism," which is the pilot and the aircraft they fly. More modern fighters require different actions and responses than the older MiGs. Ukrainian pilot training lasted only a few months, whereas, for comparison, pilots from other countries train to operate these aircraft for about two years.

The small number of aircraft and pilots who are still learning how to operate the F-16s means that, for now, these planes are not being involved in advanced and risky missions far from their bases (which is also due to the lack of weapons that would allow them to attack enemy targets at significant distances). Their role is primarily to support the country's air defence and relieve ground systems directly, particularly around Kyiv.