Denmark delays F-16 jets transfer to Ukraine — Bloomberg
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Denmark was supposed to deliver the first six F-16 fighter jets by 2024, but instead, they will be delivered sometime in the second quarter.
According to Bloomberg, the Berlingske newspaper writes about this with reference to the Ministry of Defense of the country, Rubryka writes.
"One of the biggest contributors to Ukraine's defense, Denmark, was due to supply the first six of the aircraft around the new year, but they'll instead be delivered sometime during the second quarter, the ministry said, according to the newspaper," the article states.
Berlingske quotes the Danish Ministry of Defense as saying that the delivery schedule was always subject to a number of conditions being met. Among them are the successful training of Ukrainian pilots and the availability of sufficient logistics and infrastructure for aircraft maintenance in Ukraine.
According to Berlingske, six Ukrainian pilots are currently being trained on the latest fighter jets in Denmark. Media reports said that Belgium and Norway have been sending additional F-16 fighter jets and personnel to Denmark in recent months to help with training.
Denmark is replacing its F-16 fighter jets with new F-35 Joint Striker fighters but is also facing delays in getting the planes on schedule from manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp.
In August, Denmark's prime minister pledged to send 19 F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv as part of an allied effort to provide Ukraine with modern weapons to repel a Russian invasion.
What is known about the provision of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine
It will be recalled that earlier, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rutte, in a conversation with Zelensky, announced the preparation for the transfer of the first F-16s to Ukraine.
Earlier, the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces spokesperson stated that the F-16s that Ukraine will receive need to be modernized.
It should be noted that although the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has not even received F-16 fighters yet, Russian propagandists have already begun to invent that their troops are allegedly shooting down these planes in Ukraine.
The Air Force does not yet see the point in delivering F-16 fighters to Ukraine since the planes will be under the enemy's sights.
Norway has announced that it will send two F-16 fighter jets to Denmark to train Ukrainian pilots in their use and has confirmed that it will send ten instructors to Denmark to help with the training.
Belgium will also send two F-16 two-seat fighter jets and about fifty personnel to Denmark between March and September to train Ukrainian pilots.
Already, the first six Ukrainian pilots have passed basic training in the Royal Air Force of Great Britain and are currently learning to fly F-16 fighter jets in Denmark.
