Denmark's defense ministry has announced that the delivery of the first Danish F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine may face a delay of up to six months. Instead of receiving the jets in the early part of 2024 as initially planned, Ukraine will now receive them in the second quarter of the year. This setback comes as a blow to Kyiv's aspirations of challenging Russia in the air.
According to a statement from Copenhagen, the donation is scheduled to occur in the second quarter of 2024, as per the current timetable. The main reason for the delay is the ongoing training of Ukrainian personnel who will be operating the planes. The Guardian and the Kyiv Post have both cited this statement. Initially, the timetable change was reported by Danish outlet Berlingske. However, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force later mentioned that they had not received any official confirmation of the reports and were anticipating the jets to arrive in the spring.
Denmark and the Netherlands announced in August 2023 their plan to dispatch F-16s to Ukraine. The initial batch of six fighter jets is scheduled to reach Ukraine around the beginning of the New Year.
The request for these jets from Kyiv was driven by the need to enhance Ukraine's aerial capabilities in countering Russia and conducting targeted operations. Equipped with advanced avionics and radars, the F-16s are specifically designed to deploy NATO-standard weaponry, which aligns with Ukraine's existing arsenal utilized by its older Soviet-era jets.
Ukraine's air force has faced the challenges of a nearly two-year war with Russia, resulting in a reduction of its operational aircraft. However, the process of integrating a new and more advanced platform is not a simple one. It requires the establishment of new facilities, training programs, infrastructure improvements, and upgrades to the existing aircraft before Ukrainian pilots can begin flying them.
Recently, on December 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the Dutch government had initiated preparations to deliver a batch of 18 F-16 jets to Ukraine. This delivery holds significant importance as it is a crucial component of the military support agreements made for Ukraine, as stated by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Earlier this week, Norway announced its plan to deploy two F-16 fighter jets to Denmark to assist in the training of Ukrainian pilots on these aircraft. Similarly, Belgium has also committed to sending two F-16s to Denmark for Ukrainian pilot training until 2024, as reported by Belgian broadcaster RTBF on Thursday.
The U.K. Defense Ministry had previously stated in late December that the initial group of Ukrainian pilots undergoing training with the U.K. military had completed their basic training in the country. They are currently undergoing further training in Denmark, specifically learning to fly F-16 fighter jets, after completing a foundational training program in the U.K.
In early November, some F-16s arrived at a Romanian facility dedicated to training Ukrainian pilots, while others are being trained at an air base in Arizona.
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