Netherlands allows Ukraine to use F-16s without restrictions

Dutch Chief of Defence Onno Eichelsheim has said that the Netherlands has not imposed any restrictions on the Ukrainian Armed Forces regarding the use of F-16 fighter jets supplied to Kyiv, including over Russian territory. 

“We have not imposed any limitations on the use or range of the F-16s, as long as the laws of war are respected,” he said, addressing the possibility of deploying the fighter jets over Russian territory, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The Netherlands has supplied the UAF with 24 American F-16 fighter jets. Eichelsheim declined to comment on the number of these jets that have already been deployed in Ukraine.

Ukraine has announced for the first time that it is using Western-supplied F-16 fighter jets to counter Russian drone and missile attacks. Currently, the F-16s are primarily deployed to defend Ukrainian airspace, and experts believe they could help mitigate the impact of heavy glide bomb strikes. The next phase could involve using the jets to support ground forces on the front lines.

Ukraine received its initial batch of F-16 fighter jets from Western countries about a month ago, but their deployment has faced challenges. Security expert Rainer Saks notes that the F-16 requires a completely different infrastructure compared to the Soviet-era platforms previously used by Ukrainian forces. Meanwhile, Russia is actively trying to impede the development of this infrastructure through airstrikes.