The Netherlands has delivered the first five F-16 combat aircraft that will be used to train Ukrainian pilots on the type.
The five aircraft touched down at the Fetești air base near Constanta, Romania, on Nov. 7, ahead of the formal opening of the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC). The EFTC has been jointly established by the Dutch, Danish and Romanian governments in conjunction with F-16 manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
The Netherlands government says it will make 12-18 aircraft available for the training center and the aircraft will remain the property of the Netherlands during the training.
As well as Ukrainian pilots, the facilities will also help train Romanian pilots as the country’s air force gets ready to bolster its existing F-16 fleet with 32 more aircraft acquired secondhand from Norway.
The establishment of the school and the delivery of the aircraft are the first steps toward delivering F-16s to the Ukrainian Air Force and rebuilding the service’s combat capability as Kyiv’s war with Russia drags on.
The Netherlands, Denmark and recently Belgium have pledged to deliver F-16s to Ukraine, although the transfer of the F-16s to Kyiv still requires formal approval from Washington. The transfer will only take place on the proviso that the infrastructure at Ukrainian airfields is suitable for the fighter’s operation—and once sufficient Ukrainian personnel had been trained on the type.
The Netherlands has offered to provide up to 42 aircraft to Ukraine. Denmark is offering 19, while Belgium has not yet announced how many it can provide as it depends on the deliveries of Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to replace them.
According to the Netherlands Defense Ministry, the training center in Romania first will use the aircraft to undertake a refresher course for the flying instructors hired by Lockheed Martin to train the pilots.
Maintenance of the aircraft also will be performed by Lockheed Martin. All training flights will be undertaken within NATO airspace, officials say.
“Considering the current geopolitical context and Romania’s strategic position in the Black Sea area, this center becomes essential for the cross-border cooperation and the strengthening of security and solidarity within NATO,” Romanian defense officials say.
“By setting up the European F-16 Training Center, Romania commits to providing a high-quality training environment, access to the latest-generation know-how and technical resources, available to both Romanian pilots and those from the allied and partner states—Ukraine included.”
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