France and Netherlands bolster Ukraine with fighter jets
The Ukrainian air defence is set to become even stronger. This is due to the arrival of the first French Mirage 2000-5 fighters and additional Dutch F-16 fighters. Interestingly, news of the transfer of more F-16s came just a few hours after the French Defence Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, announced the delivery of the Mirage 2000-5 to Ukraine.
The Netherlands has sent another batch of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, as confirmed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. Although the precise number of aircraft delivered was not disclosed, Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasised that the country continues to expand its fleet of F-16s.
Support from the Netherlands and France
According to Defense Romania, Zelensky highlighted that the Netherlands is fulfilling its promises, bringing Ukraine closer to victory and offering better protection for cities and citizens. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence expressed gratitude for this support, strengthening the country's security.
Just a few hours before the Dutch delivery was announced, France confirmed the transfer of the first Mirage 2000-5 aircraft to Ukraine. French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that Ukrainian pilots, after training in France, will now defend Ukrainian skies.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence emphasised that modern combat aircraft are already in the country and will soon commence combat missions. This significantly strengthens Ukraine's defensive capabilities against Russian aggression. The exact number of aircraft delivered by the Netherlands and France was not given. However, Western allies have promised Ukraine about 80 F-16 aircraft, of which roughly 20 fighters were delivered by the end of last year.
F-16 in Ukraine
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American fourth-generation multirole fighter jet, serving as the backbone of many countries' air forces since the 1970s. It is approximately 49 feet long with a wingspan of nearly 33 feet. Powered by a single jet engine, the F-16 can reach a maximum speed of roughly 1.7 Mach, about 1,700 mph. This aircraft can perform various combat missions, including air combat, ground attacks, and reconnaissance.
The F-16s transferred to Ukraine are mainly the C/D versions. These aircraft are known for their advanced avionics and ability to carry many weapons, including modern air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. They are equipped with modern AN/APG-66 pulse-Doppler radars, which enable the detection and tracking of targets in the air and on the ground.
It's worth noting that training Ukrainian pilots and ground personnel to operate the F-16 took several months and was carried out with the support of Western allies. Thanks to this training, Ukraine could quickly integrate these modern machines into its combat operations.
