Last delivery from the Netherlands: F-16 fighter jet boost for Ukraine gains momentum

Russia is currently launching a particularly massive air attack against Ukraine. The country's air defenses are still not sufficiently strengthened, but the number of F-16 jets is increasing. The Netherlands is already sending the final batch. However, a key major supplier is still missing.

According to Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans, Ukraine will receive the last delivery of F-16s from the country on Monday. This will complete the delivery of all 24 promised fighter jets. The number of F-16s in the final batch is unknown.

The Netherlands delivered the first fighter jets in October 2024, with more following in February of this year. Also in October 2024, Ukraine received six F-16s from Norway. Denmark announced last February that it had delivered 12 of the 19 promised fighter jets to Kyiv.

In total, this makes 42 publicly known F-16 deliveries. Ukraine was promised a total of 79 jets.

In addition to the missing seven from Denmark, 30 F-16s from Belgium are still pending. Ukrainian media reported a few days ago, citing statements by Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken, that the country wanted to deliver earlier than originally planned. In April, it was reported that only two F-16s from Belgium would be delivered this year.

So far, three Ukrainian F-16 jets have crashed. Since Ukraine also received its first Mirage fighter jets from France in February, the upcoming delivery from the Netherlands means that Kyiv's air force is likely to soon have over 40 Western fighter jets in service. A year ago, there was not a single one.

At least 120 F-16s needed

Given the current high threat of attacks from Russian drones and cruise missiles, around 40 jets are a significant but insufficient help. According to President Zelensky, Kyiv needs at least 120 F-16s to adequately protect its airspace. His advisor Mikhailo Podoliak once spoke of 60 to 80 "to properly seal off the airspace." The deliveries from Belgium are therefore urgently needed.

Ukraine also needs more ground-based air defense systems like Patriot to counter the ballistic missiles that Russia also frequently deploys. Although the country has been making intensive efforts to do so for some time, it hasn't received any further support with units of the system for a long time.