“The Netherlands Ministry of Defence is readying six additional F-16 fighter aircraft for delivery to Ukraine,” Kajsa Ollongren said on social media X adding that those will come in addition to the 18 already pledged.
“Ukraine’s ‘s aerial superiority is essential for countering Russian aggression,” the minister said.
These F-16s are no longer for sale to the US Firm Draken International, and the Netherlands has promised to send them to Ukraine. In an effort to modernise the air force, the Netherlands is actively filling the gap with better F-35 fighter jets.
The Ukrainian air force will benefit from this force multiplier. It should be mentioned that NATO nations are already training Ukrainian fighter pilots to fly F-16 aircraft.
Features of F-16 Fighter Jet:
- Single-engine supersonicmultirole fighter aircraft
- Crew: 1
- Length: 49 ft, 5 in.
- Span: 32 ft, 8 in.
- Empty Weight: 18,900 lbs
- Takeoff weight: 37,500 lbs
- Max speed: 1,500 mph
- Max altitude: 50,000 ft plus
- Range: 2,425 mi
- Engine: One 27,000-lb-thrust Pratt & Whitney F100
- Highly agile & maneuverable
- Payload capacity 22Tons
- The F-16 can identify low-flying aircraft amidst radar ground clutter and accurately pinpoint targets in all weather conditions.
- The design of the F-16 incorporates advanced aeronautical science and reliable technologies from previous aircraft like the F-15 and F-111.
- Despite its low weight, the fuselage maintains its strength, and the cockpit with a bubble canopy provides the pilot with unobstructed visibility in all directions.
- The F-16 falcon is capable of traveling over 500 miles in an air-to-surface mission, delivering munitions with superior accuracy, defending against hostile aircraft, and returning to its starting point.
- Its mobility and combat radius surpass those of potential threat fighter aircraft.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon