Ukraine’s Armed Forces could receive new weapons for their F-16s from the Netherlands, further boosting the jets’ effectiveness. The topic was discussed at a meeting between Deputy Defense Minister Oleksandr Kozenko and a delegation from the Dutch Ministry of Defense, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said.
According to the ministry, the talks focused on the current needs of Ukraine’s Air Force and ways to strengthen it, particularly improving the performance of the F-16s operated by the military.
Kozenko said Kyiv needs its international partners to supply additional air-launched munitions, expand the range of weapons available to Ukraine’s F-16s, and upgrade protection and countermeasure systems on combat aircraft.
The meeting also explored ways to improve maintenance of aviation platforms inside Ukraine and to streamline logistics for repairs and servicing of Ukrainian aircraft in European countries.
In 2023, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway pledged to transfer more than 60 F-16s to Ukraine. The first Dutch jets arrived in 2024. The aircraft have significantly strengthened Ukraine’s military aviation and have taken an active role in repelling Russian air attacks.
F-16 pilots have effectively shot down Russian cruise missiles. As of November 2025, Ukrainian pilots flying these fighters had downed 1,300 aerial targets, according to the Air Force Command.
