Five Dutch F-16 fighter jets will depart for Romania on Tuesday, November 7th, where a training center for Ukrainian and Romanian pilots will soon open at the Fetești airbase. This information was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands.
According to the department's website, the Netherlands initiated the establishment of this center and provided 12 to 18 F-16 fighter jets for this purpose. The aircraft remain the property of the Netherlands.
"Together with Denmark and with the support of the United States, the Netherlands are responsible for coordinating European efforts to create F-16 capabilities for Ukraine," the statement said.
It was previously announced that Lockheed Martin will provide training and technical support for the aircraft.
The training center in Romania will initially be used to enhance the qualifications of hired F-16 instructors. Subsequently, pilot training will take place.
"An official opening ceremony of the training center will take place soon," the Ministry of Defense announced.
On Tuesday, November 7th, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that five F-16 aircraft had already arrived at the training center in Romania.
"I am grateful to the Netherlands and Prime Minister Mark Rutte for their leadership in supporting Ukraine. Today, we take an important new step: five Dutch F-16s have already arrived at the training center in Romania. We continue to work together to introduce the F-16 into the Ukrainian skies as soon as possible," he wrote.
