The first five aircraft of the Royal Netherlands Air Force are already on their way to Romania to start training future Ukrainian F-16 pilots.
The Netherlands Ministry of Defense announced that five of its F-16 fighter jets are currently on their way to the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania. The aircraft are intended for the training of Romanian and Ukrainian pilots.
See also: Norway will also train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16
The Netherlands took the initiative to create the EFTC and is making 12 to 18 F-16s available for this purpose. According to the statement, the fighter jets remain the property of the Netherlands. But this situation will undoubtedly change in the future, as they will most likely be transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Together with Denmark and with U.S. support, the Netherlands is in charge of coordinating European efforts for F-16 capability for Ukraine. An inauguration ceremony for the training center will take place soon.
It was previously announced that Lockheed Martin will provide training and maintenance for the aircraft fleet in Romania.
See also: Belgium to transfer its F-16 fighters to Ukraine as of 2025
The training center in Romania will use the aircraft for the first time for a refresher course for F-16 contract instructors. This will be followed by pilot training. The Ministry of Defense clarifies that the aircraft will only fly within NATO airspace.
Thus, the transition of the Ukrainian Air Force to Western fighter aircraft officially begins.
