The Romanian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the Dutch government to purchase 18 F-16 Fighting Falcon multi-role fighter jets and related equipment.
According to the ministry, the agreement was signed on Monday, November 3. The purchased aircraft will be used exclusively for training at the European F-16 Training Center in Fetești, which has become a regional training center for pilots from NATO member countries and Alliance partners.
“The purchase is being made for a symbolic price of one euro. This is a smart investment in training, cooperation, and the future,” the Romanian Ministry of Defense said.
According to the Romanian side, the transfer of the aircraft is intended to strengthen the training capabilities of allied countries’ pilots and develop defense cooperation in the region.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that the government is committed to providing up to CAD 389 million ($285 million at current exchange rates) to improve the training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots through the Air Force Coalition within the framework of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
According to a statement on the Canadian Prime Minister’s website, Trudeau promised to provide further assistance so that Ukraine can continue to defend its freedom.
In particular, the Canadian support includes the allocation of up to CAD 389 million to improve the training of F-16 pilots.
“These funds, allocated as part of previously announced military funding, will support pilot training in the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as provide critical equipment to ensure the safe operation of the F-16 in Ukraine,” the statement said.
According to the press service, this will be a multi-year contribution to the Air Force Capability Coalition (up to $389 million over five years). This support builds on more than $75 million provided to the Air Force Coalition for maintenance instructors in Denmark, aircraft and pilot instructor training in France, critical equipment and ammunition for the F-16, and English language training at the Canadian Forces Language School.
“These activities are a multi-year program that will be carried out using previously allocated funding announced in February 2024,” the statement said.
The prime minister’s office also recalled the allocation of an additional CAD 500 million for military assistance to Ukraine announced earlier at the NATO summit as part of NATO’s promise of long-term security assistance to Ukraine. This includes almost $444 million to National Defence Canada to cover the cost of military equipment, assistance and training for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as more than $56 million for the NATO Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) trust fund for Ukraine to help rebuild Ukraine’s security and defense sector and facilitate Ukraine’s transition to full interoperability with NATO. Canadian funding through CAP also provides equipment for women in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“These additional funds are in addition to Canada’s existing military assistance to Ukraine totaling $1.1 billion this year,” the statement said.
The Netherlands is allocating more than 150 million euros for the purchase of air-to-ground ammunition for Ukrainian F-16 aircraft and more than 200 million euros for the purchase of drones.
According to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the ammunition will be purchased directly from the industry. Defense Minister Keesa Ollongren announced this after yesterday’s meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine’s Defense.
In addition, the Netherlands is sending (out of the previously promised) F-16 fighter jets to Romania. The planes will be used in a training center for Ukrainian and Romanian pilots. This includes not only the aircraft themselves, but also all related spare parts and ammunition.
The Netherlands leads the Ramstein Air Force coalition along with Denmark and the United States. 18 Dutch F-16s have been made available for training in Romania. The remaining 24 Dutch F-16s are intended for delivery to Ukraine. Some of them are currently being prepared in coordination with coalition partners.
The Ministry of Defense also informed that the Netherlands is allocating more than 200 million euros for the purchase of drones. It is planned to purchase a significant number of ISR (Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance) drones and transfer them to Ukraine, which will be done in coordination with other partners and the Ukrainian armed forces.
“These drones are already in use and have proven themselves on the battlefield,” said Minister Ollongren.
In Brussels, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Bulgaria’s Defense Minister Todor Tagarev signed a memorandum expanding the scope of bilateral cooperation, including cyber defense, strategic communications, and military and technical support.
“The results of the meeting with my Bulgarian counterpart Todor Tagarev are significant. We have signed a Memorandum expanding the scope of bilateral cooperation, including cyber defense, strategic communications, and military and technical support. The document also lays the foundation for future defense cooperation and military cooperation,” Umerov wrote in X.
In addition, Bulgaria will help with English language courses for future Ukrainian F-16 pilots.
“I am grateful for the important support of Minister Tagarev and the entire Bulgarian people,” the minister added.
Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder said that the federal government confirmed on Friday the participation of the Belgian side in training Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 multi-role fighter aircraft.
“Along with this important contribution to the training and commissioning of fighter aircraft, our government officially expresses its support for helping to build this new capacity necessary for the modernization of the Ukrainian armed forces,” RTBF quoted the minister as saying in a communique.
According to her, Belgium is thus acting as part of the “F-16 coalition” led by the Netherlands and Denmark to train Ukrainian pilots and eventually supply combat aircraft of this type to Ukraine.
In the coming weeks, the Belgian Ministry of Defense will send three servicemen to a training center for Ukrainian F-16 pilots in Denmark, Dedonder said.
In 2024, the Belgian side will deploy two F-16B training aircraft and a unit of fifty military personnel, mainly technicians, to Denmark to maintain the fighter jets.
Norway has decided to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, TV2 TV channel reports citing data from several independent sources.
“Thus, Norway becomes the third NATO country after the Netherlands and Denmark to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine,” the report indicates.
It is noted that the Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre on Thursday, August 24, is on a visit to Kiev.
