Ukraine may receive F-16 jet fighters in early 2024 – Politico
The transfer of Western-made F-16 jets to Ukraine is expected to take place in early 2024, although specific dates have not been determined yet, according to Politico.
The question of which countries will donate aircraft to Ukraine remains up in the air.
The Netherlands and Denmark, which are leading the multinational training effort, are most likely to provide the jets, according to one current and one former Defense Department official.
However, according to the sources, the final decision on this matter has not been reached yet.
Earlier, Politico reported that Romania was considered as a possible location for training on the warplanes, which could begin this summer.
Providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets was discussed during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (the Ramstein group) last week.
Following the meeting, it became known that Ukraine's partners plan to approve a training program for Ukrainian pilots, engineers, and technicians for the F-16 fighter jets by July. The training itself will take place in a specially established center in one of the European countries.
What is known about the training of Ukrainian pilots on Western fighter jets?
The UK was the first to agree to train Ukrainian pilots on modern fighter jets. It is planned to start training this summer.
In addition, the prime ministers of the Netherlands and the UK agreed to work on forming an international coalition of fighter jets for Ukraine.
France followed the UK in supporting this initiative. President Emmanuel Macron said this week that pilot training could begin "right now."
On May 19, US President Joe Biden said that his country supports the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s.
