Ukraine Hiring U.S., Dutch Pilots On 6-month Contracts To Fly F-16s

Ukraine has allegedly assembled a covert F-16 squadron made up of Ukrainian, American and Dutch pilots on renewable six-month contracts to defend Kyiv from Russian missile and drone attacks, French intelligence outlet Intelligence Online reports.

The unit was formed in recent weeks under strict secrecy and is now central to air defense operations over Kyiv Oblast, which faces repeated Russian aerial strikes. The Western pilots are not active-duty NATO personnel. They serve under contract, outside Ukraine’s formal military hierarchy, and are not listed in public rosters.

According to Intelligence Online, the American pilots include veterans of combat missions in Afghanistan, with one recently deployed in the Middle East before joining Ukraine’s effort. Dutch personnel are reportedly graduates of European air combat schools trained in interception and modern aerial warfare.

The squadron is tasked with intercepting Russian Kalibr and Kh-101 cruise missiles, as well as Geran-5 drones. F-16s conduct regular and overnight patrols to expand radar coverage and reduce response time during large-scale attacks.

A key element of the mission is the use of the Lockheed Martin Sniper targeting and reconnaissance pod. The electro-optical and infrared system enables long-range identification and tracking of fast-moving aerial targets in darkness or adverse weather. Sources cited by the outlet say Ukrainian pilots had only partial familiarity with such systems before transitioning to the F-16, leaving Western veterans to bridge the experience gap.

In 2023, the Ukrainian Air Force signaled that foreigners could serve as pilots or aviation specialists if qualified. Kyiv has not officially confirmed that foreign pilots are flying combat missions.

The reported arrangement coincides with the Netherlands’ planned delivery of F-16 training simulators to Ukraine and a U.S. Department of Defense contract worth more than $235.4 million for F-16 maintenance, including aircraft designated for Ukraine.

If accurate, the formation of a contract-based international F-16 unit reflects deeper Western involvement in Ukraine’s air defense as Kyiv integrates NATO-standard fighters into active combat against Russia’s sustained missile and drone campaign.