Belgium will send two F-16 jets and 15 maintenance experts to Denmark to train Ukrainian military pilots.
According to the Brussels Times, Uklinforum reported.
“Belgium will send two F-16s and about 50 personnel to Denmark from March to September to train Ukrainian pilots. […] Do it twice for 8 weeks. The training mission is part of the 13-nation F-16 coalition led by Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States, and aims to equip the Ukrainian air force with this type of fighter from the 1980s and 1990s. It is. ‘The report states:
Ukrainian pilot training takes place in Romania, Denmark, the United States and the United Kingdom. Six experienced pilots recently completed basic training in the UK, including English lessons.
Its purpose is not only to train pilots, but also Ukrainian technicians and mission planners. Personnel will primarily come from the 2nd Tactical Wing and 10th Tactical Wing, based in Florennes and Kleine Brogel, respectively.
Denmark made Sklydstrup air base available for this purpose.
Romania is based at an additional training center, the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC), at Boruca Air Base, approximately 150 kilometers from the capital Bucharest. Five Dutch F-16s were stationed there in November.
Denmark has committed to delivering 19 F-16s to Kyiv, and the Netherlands will contribute 18 as the new F-35 fighter jets are phased into service. Norway has stopped using its F-16s since switching to the F-35, but has vaguely promised to contribute some aircraft.
The Belgian government has decided to deploy F-16s to Ukraine starting in 2025, but Belgian parliamentary elections are scheduled for June 2024, and the final decision will be up to the government at the time.
photograph: Berga