SAEDNEWS: The Netherlands is going to provide equipment and materials for the maintenance of Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets, as well as air-to-air missiles, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said.
According to SAEDNEWS,
On September 7, 2023, the Netherlands announced that it will provide essential equipment and materials for maintaining Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets. This includes air-to-air missiles, as stated by Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
During a meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine held at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Brekelmans confirmed this support for Ukraine. He explained, “The F-16 aircraft need support materials and spare parts for maintenance, otherwise they cannot fly. The Netherlands will supply EUR 80 million worth of materials. Besides large quantities of spare parts, these include generators, small vehicles, essential maintenance materials, specialized tools, and stairs. With the air-to-air missiles, Ukraine can take down enemy aircraft,” according to Interfax.
Due to operational safety concerns, the minister did not disclose specific details about the quantities or types of equipment being sent. He also did not provide a timeline for the deliveries, but emphasized that the Netherlands aims to ensure the materials reach Ukraine as soon as possible.
In related news, the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) announced that it has surpassed 1 billion pounds in pledged assistance to Ukraine earlier this week. The Netherlands is a partner in this fund, which is managed by the United Kingdom.
Earlier this summer, the Netherlands had also pledged assistance in the form of drones for Ukraine through the IFU and has contributed a total of EUR 125 million to this fund. All amounts referenced are part of the financial aid already allocated for Ukraine.
