Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said the Netherlands and Romania would set up a joint center for training Ukrainian F-16 ground maintenance crews.
The minister wrote about this on X, Ukrinform reports.
Nederland leidt samen met Roemenië F16-vliegers op voor Oekraïne en Roemenië.
We spreken nu ook af om samen technici op te gaan leiden om F16’s inzetbaar te houden.
Ook bezoek ik onze mensen van het MQ-9 detachement (onbemande vliegtuigen). Grote waardering voor hun inzet! 🇳🇱🇷🇴 pic.twitter.com/QKY3ubN3d1
— Ruben Brekelmans (@DefensieMin) May 8, 2025
“The Netherlands, together with Romania, are training F-16 pilots for Ukraine and Romania. We have also agreed on joint training of technical personnel for servicing F-16 fighters. In addition, I am visiting our military from the MQ-9 unit (unmanned aerial vehicles). Many thanks for their efforts!” the statement says.
The Dutch Ministry of Defense wrote that the Netherlands sought to contribute to the establishment of a training center for F-16 maintenance personnel in Romania. The country is home to the European F-16 Pilot Training Center (EFTC). “Both countries signed a declaration of intent to this end. This happened during a visit by Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans to his Romanian counterpart, Angel Tilvar,” reads the report.
The training center will be located at Feteşti Air Base, home to EFTC. With this agreement, the Netherlands once again demonstrates its close cooperation with allies in Eastern Europe. Both Romanian and Ukrainian pilots are trained at the EFTC. Late last year, it was also announced that the Netherlands would officially transfer to Romania 18 F-16 fighter jets based at EFTC.
“Ukrainians are actively using F-16s for air defense. Every day we see how necessary this is. And not only pilots are important – well-trained maintenance crews also play a crucial role. Together with Romania, we are now taking another important step in this direction. In this way, we are showing what we are capable of together, continuing to support Ukraine and at the same time strengthening the armed forces of Europe. This is extremely necessary, because we must together repel Russian aggression,” said Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
The Dutch Defense Minister also experienced first-hand what it is like to fly an F-16 at EFTC. He boarded a two-seater aircraft alongside a Dutch flight instructor. Their flight lasted about 45 minutes.
Brekelmans concluded his visit to Romania at Campia-Turzi Air Base, where a Dutch unit manning two MQ-9 Reaper drones is located. These UAVs are used for reconnaissance missions along NATO’s eastern flank.
About 120 Dutch military personnel are involved in the mission. Some of them are analysts and operators working remotely from Leeuwarden Air Base, and about 35 service members are deployed directly at the base, providing technical maintenance and security of the vehicles.
As Ukrinform reported, Dutch industry is developing a plan to launch satellites for military support of Ukraine.
Source: Netherlands, Romania to train Ukrainian F-16 technicians
