Following the recent retirement of the F-16 fighters, which had a 45-year service history, the Royal Netherlands Air Force has reported that its new F-35A aircraft have achieved Full Operational Capability. This represents a significant leap in capabilities, as the stealth fighters can now be deployed for air surveillance missions over the Benelux region and in areas of terrorist activity, with the potential to participate in NATO’s nuclear deterrence network.
It is worth noting that the first F-35A fighters arrived in the country on October 31, 2019, and were stationed at Leeuwarden Air Base. According to a recent official statement from the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the Air Force can now boast a fleet of up to 40 of these aircraft, with 12 more on order.
Additionally, the Dutch defense ministry highlighted the preparation of a new Defense Memorandum published earlier this month, indicating ongoing negotiations to acquire a larger number of F-35A fighters, which would increase the fleet to a total of 58 units. This move allows the country to move past a significant period of disinvestment in such capabilities, making a substantial qualitative leap amid the tense European landscape due to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Finally, regarding the retired F-16s, it is important to emphasize that their retirement from active service in the Netherlands does not mean they will never fly again. This is significant, as about 24 jets (originally 18, with an additional 6 due to the cancellation of a sale to Draken) will be made available to the Ukrainian Air Force, with approximately half already delivered to the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) located in Romania, where a cohort of Ukrainian pilots is being trained on the platform alongside NATO pilots.
Image credits: Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands
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