Ten Ukrainian military personnel have completed training in the Netherlands on servicing F-16 fighter jets, according to the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands.
According to the report, the Ukrainian trainees learned to service all critical components for fighter pilots, including helmets, oxygen systems, and onboard parachutes.
The training also covered the assembly and inspection of survival kits, which allow pilots to survive for several days after a forced landing. These kits include food and medicine, among other items.
"The training prepares participants for all possible risks associated with F-16 missions. Ultimately, this will also provide better protection for Ukrainian pilots," the report says.
The training program was organized under the Flight Safety Engineering cluster. "F-16 pilots essentially entrust their lives to the military personnel who service the aircraft. At the moment of takeoff, they know they can rely on the knowledge and skills of these people, ensuring the aircraft is in proper condition," said the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands.
The Netherlands has agreed to provide Ukraine with at least 24 F-16 aircraft. The Netherlands is also one of the initiators of the creation of the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania. Currently, the EFTC has been allocated 11 F-16 aircraft.
