Ukraine will receive the first F-16 fighters from Denmark with a delay of at least several months

Ukraine will receive the first F-16 fighters from Denmark with a delay of at least several months, as reported by Berlingske, citing an anonymous representative of the Danish Ministry of Defense.

The delivery of the first six fighters was supposed to take place after the New Year, but due to the continuation of the training of Ukrainian pilots, the Danish F-16s will reach Ukraine only in the second quarter of 2024.

The Ministry of National Defense also stated that the F-16 delivery schedule has always been dependent on the fulfillment of several conditions. These include the successful training of Ukrainian pilots, as well as the availability of logistical support, ground staff, and infrastructure to maintain these aircraft in Ukraine.

Currently, six Ukrainian pilots are training in Denmark. It is expected that eight more F-16 aircraft will be sent from Denmark to Ukraine in 2024, and five more in 2025.

Later, the spokesperson of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuri Ignat, commented on the publication of the Danish newspaper Berlingske in the telethon "Yedini Novy" and stated that there are currently no official reports from Denmark about the delay in the delivery of F-16 fighters to Ukraine.

“We look at the website of the Danish Ministry of Defense – I haven't seen any statement. Therefore, the publication refers to some of its own sources. It is immediately picked up and becomes the mainstream of our media. What is written in the article – there are no official statements. Let's look at all the statements not made by the mass media, the Western media, very often surprise us with some statements, citing their sources. There are official statements, we will stick to them
Ignat said.

According to him, there is no point in delivering F-16 aircraft by the end of 2023 because the appropriate infrastructure has not yet been prepared for them. Ignat added that Ukraine expects to deliver the planes and complete pilot training this spring.

In late December, it emerged that the first group of six Ukrainian pilots who had trained in the British Royal Air Force, after completing the basic training program in the UK, were learning to fly F-16 fighters in Denmark.

On January 3, 2024, Norwegian Minister of Defense Bjorn Aril Gram announced the sending of two F-16 fighters to Denmark to train Ukrainian pilots in aircraft operation. In his speech, Gram noted that Norway has already sent 10 instructors to Denmark to help train armed forces pilots. At the same time, according to the minister, the Norwegian Air Force replaced its own F-16 with fifth-generation F-35 fighters.

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On January 4, 2024, it became known that Belgium would send two two-seat F-16 fighters and about fifty people to Denmark for training Ukrainian pilots.

From the beginning of 2024, France will join the training of Ukrainian pilots on Western multi-role fighters.

On December 22, 2023, it was learned that the Netherlands would donate 18 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine.

What is known about the transfer of the F-16 to Ukraine

On May 19, 2023, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the United States' readiness to approve the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters.

US presidential adviser on national security Jake Sullivan said that the United States may consent to the transfer of combat aircraft, in particular the F-16, to Ukraine, provided that they will not be used for attacks on US territory or the Russian Federation.

On May 20, 2023, a Dutch defense analysis website reported that the Netherlands had canceled a contract to sell F-16 fighter jets to the private company Draken International.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed during the G7 summit that his country is ready to provide assistance in training Ukrainian military pilots. After the G7 summit, it turned out that the US had blocked the training of Ukrainian fighter pilots and the provision of air transport to other countries.

Last May, US President Joe Biden confirmed the US intention to train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 but noted that Kyiv had promised not to use the plane for attacks on Russian territory.

On May 22, 2023, US Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller said that the priority is to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighters. Ukraine's partners will begin implementing the appropriate plan in the coming months. The next day, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg indicated that Western allies would individually determine when to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters.

On August 20, 2023, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that the country planned to send 19 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, with the first six closer to the New Year. Zelensky said that the Netherlands will provide 42 planes. The planes will be sent once conditions are met, including the provision of the necessary infrastructure and completion of pilot training.

On November 13, 2023, an F-16 pilot training center was opened in Romania at an airbase 100 km from Bucharest, where Ukrainians will be trained.