The fighter jet that made history

F-16 MiG killer

A unique piece of Dutch Air Force history: the F-16 J-063, the only Dutch fighter jet to have shot down an enemy aircraft since the Second World War, is now on display in the museum.

  • On 24 March 1999, then Major Peter Tankink shot down a Serbian MiG-29.
  • The iconic MiG silhouette bears witness to this historic event.
  • After 45 years of dedicated service, the aircraft can now be seen in the museum.
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An armament technician mounts AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles under the wing of a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon at Amendola Air Base. Photo: NIMH

War in the Balkans

In 1991, violence erupted in the divided Yugoslavia. After the death of Tito, several republics fought for autonomy. Under the leadership of the United Nations, and later NATO, tens of thousands of troops were deployed to restore and maintain peace.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force was deployed from 1992 onwards. In 1995, the war escalated with the fall of Srebrenica. At that time, a Dutch F-16 dropped bombs on Serbian troops for the first time. In 1998, the conflict flared up again around Kosovo. NATO intervened to put an end to the violence.

Operatie Allied Force

In March 1999, NATO launched Operation Allied Force. Dutch F-16s protected bomber formations and also carried out attacks themselves.

Shortly before, the aircraft had been equipped with the advanced AMRAAM missile and new targeting systems. Thanks to their precision capabilities, Dutch pilots were assigned the most heavily defended targets. The United States regarded the Netherlands as part of the A-team.

Operation Allied Force lasted from 23 March to 10 June 1999.

Video of a Dutch F-16 being fired upon by Serbian anti-aircraft artillery, Collection National Military Museum

24 March 1999

The aerial victory

Four Dutch F-16s are protecting coalition aircraft over hostile territory. Then Major Peter Tankink sees an enemy aircraft approaching on his radar. After confirmation that it is a MiG-29, he fires an AMRAAM missile, an air-to-air missile. He successfully shoots down the Serbian MiG-29. The MiG pilot ejects safely.

Tankink shot down the MiG using the F-16 J-063. Immediately after the mission, the aircraft was marked with a MiG-29 silhouette. Since then, the aircraft has been known as the MiG killer.

MiG-29 silhouette on the F-16 J-063.
MiG-29 silhouette on the F-16 J-063.
The J-063 is displayed as it returned after the aerial victory, without an AMRAAM missile on station 2.
The J-063 is displayed as it returned after the aerial victory, without an AMRAAM missile on station 2.
Peter Tankink in uniform voor de F16-MiG Killer
"After about half a minute, I saw a faint flash of light and a second or so later I saw burning debris falling down. That was when I knew I had hit it." Commodore pilot Peter ‘Wobble’ Tankink
How is an F-16 transported and installed in the museum? Watch the video here. (Dutch)
Lloyd van der Swaan
"The ‘MiG killer’ is an example in our permanent exhibition of the split-second decisions Dutch military personnel must make in combat zones. An object with such meaning helps visitors reflect on the complexity of military intervention." Lloyd van der Swaan, curator

Discover more about the F-16

See the F-16 MiG killer with your own eyes

The F-16 J-063 is now on display at the National Military Museum.

Order museum tickets