Belgian broadcaster RTBF, citing comments from the Belgian Ministry of Defense, reported that Belgium will send two F-16 fighter jets and 50 training personnel to Denmark from March to September to help train Ukrainian pilots. Ta.
The training program will include mentoring Ukrainian pilots, technicians and mission planners.
The Fighter Union, which trains Ukrainian pilots and technical staff, was formally established in July by 11 founding allies, but has since expanded to 13 countries. Training for Ukrainian aviators is being carried out in Denmark and the United States, and a training center has been opened in Romania.
Norway announced on January 3 that it would send two F-16s and 10 instructors to Denmark.
Defense Minister Ludivine Desdonde said in October that Belgium would send several F-16s to Ukraine, adding that the first jets were likely to arrive in 2025. He did not say how many planes Belgium would supply.
The Netherlands will hand over 18 F-16s to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on December 22 after a telephone conversation with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Denmark has promised to provide 19 aircraft.
It is unclear when the first F-16s will actually arrive in Ukraine, with some Ukrainian lawmakers suggesting that in the best-case scenario they would not be operational until late spring.
The Washington Post reported that according to official estimates, Ukrainian pilots will be able to fly the F-16 by the summer of 2024.
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