Denmark’s plan to donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine has been hit by several months of delays, Berlinske reported, citing the Danish Ministry of Defense. Originally scheduled for delivery by the end of 2023, the first six aircraft are expected to arrive in Ukraine during the second quarter of 2024.
According to Berlinske, the Danish Ministry of Defense said that the delivery schedule always requires certain preconditions. Key to this will be the successful training of Ukrainian pilots and ensuring adequate logistics and infrastructure in Ukraine for jet maintenance and servicing. However, the ministry did not provide further details regarding these conditions.
This delay came despite Denmark’s promise to send 19 F-16s to Kiev, as announced by the Prime Minister in August. The pledge is part of a broader effort by allies to supply Ukraine with advanced weapons to help defend against Russian aggression.
RTBF reported on January 4, citing sources from the Belgian Ministry of Defense, that Belgium will send two F-16 fighter jets and approximately 50 personnel to Denmark from March to September 2024 to train Ukrainian pilots. The plan was announced.
On January 3, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram announced that Norway would send two F-16 fighter jets to help train Ukrainian pilots on US-made aircraft in Denmark.
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