The Netherlands announced on Wednesday that it would provide Ukraine with $164 million in ordnance for the F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighters that have also been pledged to support its war effort. In total, the Dutch government has said it would provide 350 million euros to the cause, with 150 million euros to pay for guided air-to-ground missiles that can be fired from the F-16, while an additional 200 million euros would fund Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) drones.

"The Netherlands is releasing more than EUR 150 million for the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine. This concerns air-to-ground weapons for the F-16s that go to Ukraine. They can be dropped by F-16s. This ammunition is purchased directly from the industry. Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced this following a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) yesterday," the Dutch Ministry of Defense announced via a statement.

To date, the Netherlands has pledged 2 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine in 2024, with a significant share going towards ammunition and drones—each of which Kyiv has said are desperately needed.

The Fight Falcons—Ready to Take Flight

Denmark and the Netherlands each pledged to provide Ukraine with F-16 aircraft from their respective air forces, while the United States has approved the transfer and provided training and technical data. The delivery of the first dozen Fighting Falcons is expected to begin this summer.

"The Netherlands, together with Denmark and the United States, leads the UDCG air force coalition. Eighteen Dutch F-16s have been made available for use in Romania for training. Twenty-four other Dutch F-16s are intended for delivery to Ukraine. Part of that group is now being prepared for this. This is done in consultation with partners from the coalition," the Dutch ministry added.

A total of forty-five Fighting Falcons have been pledged to Ukraine. It is a combat-proven fighter, adopted by dozens of nations around the world.

The New York Times reported earlier this month that the training of Ukraine's pilots on the F-16 has proceeded at "lightning speed, compressing years of classroom learning, simulations and flight exercises into months."

Yet, the progress has been slower going than Kyiv or its allies had hoped—due to the fact that pilots trained on Soviet-era planes and tactics have had to get up to speed on the English language and Western military practices to make effective use of the Fighting Falcons.

F-16 Game Changer for Ukraine?

Last year, NATO member Denmark led the European effort to provide Ukraine with F-16s. The F-16s were on the list of Western-made military hardware requested by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with tanks, air defense systems, and artillery.

However, the Biden administration only reluctantly gave in to Ukraine's demands last summer by allowing NATO allies to provide the F-16s to Kyiv. Those jets were being phased out in some European militaries in favor of the newer F-35 Lightning II.

Since it first entered service in 1979, the Fighting Falcon has engaged in more than 400,000 combat sorties and has more than a combined 19 million flight hours. Moreover, the F-16 has been adapted to complete several missions, including air-to-air fighting, ground attack, and electronic warfare. It has proven to be highly maneuverable while its combat radius exceeds that of its potential threats.

Though the U.S. Air Force is no longer acquiring the F-16, aerospace giant Lockheed Martin continues to build the F-16 for foreign customers around the world. It remains the world's most successful, combat-proven multi-role jet fighter ever produced. Yet, concerns remain that forty-five aircraft may not be enough to make a significant difference in Ukraine.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].