The supply of the primary Danish F-16 fighter jets destined for Ukraine may well be behind schedule by means of as much as six months in a blow to Kyiv’s hopes of difficult Russia within the air within the early a part of 2024.Ukraine will obtain the preliminary six fighter jets in the second one quarter of 2024, fairly than within the first days of the yr as at the start instructed, in line with Denmark’s protection ministry.”In line with the present timetable, the donation must happen in the second one quarter of 2024. It is principally a subject matter of completing the learning of Ukrainian group of workers who will perform the planes,” Copenhagen mentioned in a remark cited by means of The Mother or father and the Kyiv Publish.The alternate in timetable used to be at the start reported by means of Danish outlet Berlingske. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian air drive perceived to recommend in a while after that Ukraine had gained no professional affirmation of the studies, and that it anticipated to obtain the jets within the spring.Newsweek has reached out to the Danish Protection Ministry and Ukraine’s air drive for remark by way of electronic mail.
Danish F-16 warring parties are observed all the way through the Danish Air Display 2014 at Karup Air Base on June 22, 2014. The supply of the primary Danish F-16 fighter jets destined for Ukraine will probably be behind schedule by means of as much as six months, in line with a brand new file, in a blow to Kyiv’s hopes of difficult Russia within the air within the early a part of 2024.
HENNING BAGGER/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
In August 2023, Denmark and the Netherlands introduced that they might ship F-16s to Ukraine, with the primary six fighter jets because of arrive in Ukraine across the New 12 months.Kyiv had clamored for the jets, which might spice up Ukraine’s skill to contest Russia within the skies and lend a hand release extra moves on key objectives. The F-16s are supplied with extra fashionable avionics and radars and are designed to release the NATO-standard guns Ukraine has been the use of with its older, Soviet-era jets.Ukraine’s air drive has additionally weathered just about two years of conflict towards Russia, chopping down its to be had airplane.However integrating the brand new, extra complex platform is not any simple activity, requiring new amenities, coaching, infrastructure, and upgrades to the airplane sooner than Ukrainian pilots can take to the skies.On December 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned the Dutch govt used to be beginning arrangements to ship a batch of 18 F-16 jets to Ukraine.”The supply of F-16s is without doubt one of the maximum vital components of the agreements made on army enhance for Ukraine,” mentioned Dutch Top Minister, Mark Rutte.Norway mentioned previous this week that it is going to ship two F-16 fighter jets to Denmark to lend a hand educate Ukrainian pilots at the airplane. Belgium may even ship two F-16s to Denmark for Ukrainian pilot coaching all over 2024, Belgian broadcaster RTBF reported on Thursday.
The U.Okay. Protection Ministry mentioned in past due December that the “first cohort” of Ukrainian pilots being skilled by means of the U.Okay. army have finished fundamental coaching within the nation, and are “now finding out to fly F-16 fighter jets in Denmark, having finished a fundamental programme of coaching in the United Kingdom.”In early November, numerous F-16s arrived at a Romanian facility designed to coach Ukrainian pilots, with others being skilled at an air base in Arizona.
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