Denmark to donate first F-16 jets to Ukraine in summer, says defense chief
According to the statement, the final timeframe will depend on when Ukrainian pilots complete training to fly the planes
STOCKHOLM, February 22. /TASS/. Denmark will donate the first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this summer, the Danish Defense Ministry said in a statement.
"We are working to make sure that everything goes smoothly this summer when we expect to be able to donate the first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, provided preparations go as planned,"Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stressed.
According to the statement, the final timeframe will depend on when Ukrainian pilots complete training to fly the planes. The international coalition seeking to support Ukraine in terms of air forces, which, apart from Denmark, is led by the US and the Netherlands, "is making every effort to create" the necessary conditions, the statement says. The Berlingske newspaper reported in January, citing the Danish Defense Ministry, that Copenhagen’s donation of the first F-16 jets to Kiev would be delayed by about six months.
The initial plan was that the aircraft would be delivered to Ukraine around the New Year.
The Defense Ministry explained that the delay was due to Ukraine not yet being prepared to use the aircraft in combat.
Six Ukrainian pilots are undergoing F-16 training in Denmark.
In late August, the Netherlands announced its willingness to donate 42 US-made F-16 jets to Ukraine, and
Denmark promised to send 19 such planes to Kiev.
The US authorities approved the move.
Kiev expressed hope that Ukraine would receive the aircraft in the first half of 2024.However, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that this would happen no earlier than in the spring.
"Because a significant infrastructure is needed to service these fighters, and training for the F-16 takes much longer and is more extensive than for any other weapons systems," she stated.
AMSTERDAM, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The Netherlands will deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to help its battle against Russia's invasion, the Dutch government said on Friday.
"Today I informed President Zelenskiy of our government's decision to prepare an initial 18 F-16 fighter aircraft for delivery to Ukraine,"caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a post on social media platform X.
"The delivery of F-16s is one of the most important elements of the agreements made on military support for Ukraine."
The delivery of the fighter jets is still pending on an export permit by the Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs and the fulfillment of criteria for staff and infrastructure in Ukraine, Rutte added without giving a timeline for these decisions.
But the announcement made it possible to reserve funds and people to prepare the planes for delivery, the government said.
"I spoke with Mark Rutte to thank the Dutch government for its decision to start preparing the initial 18 F-16 jets for their delivery to Ukraine,"Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy said on X.
The Netherlands sent its first U.S. made F-16s to a new training facility for Ukrainian pilots and staff in Romania last month.
Denmark, Norway and Belgium have also announced they will give F-16 jets to Ukraine, after the U.S. government approved sending them to defend against Russia as soon as pilot training is completed.
The first Danish F-16 combat aircraft are expected to be handed over to Ukraine this summer
This announcement comes from the international coalition of the Air Force, which, led by Denmark, the Netherlands, and the USA, is coordinating the ongoing F-16 training and the preparations for the handover of the first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
"It is difficult to set a fixed timetable for the donation of F-16 fighter jets because several conditions must be met for Ukraine to use the donated aircraft. However, I informed the conciliation circle that we are currently working to finalize the preparations to a higher degree this summer. If everything proceeds as planned, we expect to hand over the first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine during this period,"says Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
The first photo of F-16 aircraft with Ukrainian insignia / Photo credit: Voice of America
The final handover of the first Danish F-16 combat aircraft depends, among other things, on the full training of Ukrainian pilots and necessary support personnel, as well as the establishment of required logistics and infrastructure in Ukraine. The international air force coalition supporting Ukraine is working diligently to ensure these conditions are met.
Denmark has led the coalition, alongside the Netherlands and the United States, since its establishment in autumn 2023.
The Air Force Capability Coalition was created within the framework of the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group, with its initial focus on providing an F-16 fighter aircraft capability in Ukraine.
According to Flight Global, Ukraine appears likely to have a Lockheed Martin F-16 capability by this summer, according to governments involved in providing fighters to the beleaguered eastern European nation. By Greg Waldron22 February 2024
Ukraine set to receive F-16 capability by this summer
Denmark is poised to hand over an undisclosed number of F-16s to Ukraine in the summer, as training for both pilots and ground crew continue, according the Danish defence ministry and a statement from theAir Force Capability Coalition (AFCC), which comprises Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway and the USA.
Source: Danish defence ministry
Donated F-16s will play a role in recapitalising Ukraine’s depleted air force, which has been worn down by two years of conflict
“It is difficult to set a fixed timetable for the donation of F-16 fighter jets, because there are several conditions that must be met in order for Ukraine to use the donated aircraft,” says Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
“But I have informed the conciliation circle that we are now working on getting it into a higher unity this summer, when we expect to be able to hand over the first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, if the preparations proceed as planned.”
The handover is contingent on training of Ukrainian personnel, as well as the establishment of logistics and infrastructure in Ukraine. Poulsen’s remarks followed a meeting of the AFCC steering group on 21 February. A statement from the meeting said that the partners aim to ensure that Ukraine gets a “fully functional F-16 capability” by the summer.
“AFCC members coordinate to meet the requirements to ensure Ukraine receives a fully functional F-16 capability, including Denmark’s initial donation of aircraft in the summer of 2024, and other allied donations later this year,” says the AFCC.“
The AFCC reaffirmed its unwavering support to help Ukraine protect its skies.”
In addition to Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway are also donating used F-16s to Kyiv.
While the number of F-16s that will eventually make their way into Ukrainian service is unclear, it could come to a few dozen jets.
The aircraft are sorely needed to replace losses of Ukrainian aircraft since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Comprehensive air defence networks have ensured that neither Russia nor Ukraine has been able to achieve air superiority, resulting in a grinding war of attrition on the ground.
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