In order to take action against Russia, Ukraine is using the F-16 fighter jets supplied by NATO. More fighter jets have now been promised.
Kyiv/Copenhagen – The F-16 fighter jets were supposed to turn the Ukraine War At the end of July, the first Western fighter jets were delivered to Ukraine. The aim was to take away Moscow’s air sovereignty. This created a major problem – who would actually fly the planes? Despite the pilot shortage, Denmark has announced that it will deliver more F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine before the end of the year.
Denmark wants to deliver more F-16 fighter jets to Kiev in the Ukraine war
The Danish government had promised Ukraine a total of 19 F-16 fighter jets. According to Newsweek A first batch of fighter aircraft is said to have already been delivered. “In the second half of 2024, Denmark will deliver an additional contribution of F-16 aircraft,” Denmark’s Defence Minister Troels Lund Poelsen told the Danish news agency Ritzauwithout specifying how many or when exactly they would be delivered. It is hoped that additional fighter jets can be used to support Kiev in the fight against Russian aggression.
For the Ukraine war: Ukrainian soldiers are trained in Romania for F-16 fighter jets
In order for the F-16 fighter jets to take to the skies, Ukrainian pilots must be trained. A group of Ukrainian soldiers is in Romania for this purpose. F-16 training is to take place there at the Fetesti air base. 14 of the 18 promised Dutch F-16 aircraft have already arrived there, reported Airforce Technology.
“The pilots will be trained at Fetesti Air Base, a facility built by a coalition led by the Netherlands, Denmark and the United States to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities,” reported Airforce TechnologyThe Dutch Ministry of Defence assured that training would begin before the end of the year.
“It will take several years for Ukraine to train enough pilots and maintenance personnel for the expected 80 aircraft,” Peter Rutland, a Russia expert and professor of government at Wesleyan University, told Newsweek.
Just weeks after the first delivery, Ukraine’s F-16 pilot crashes
In Denmark, six Ukrainian soldiers have already been trained to use F-16 fighter jets. Lieutenant Colonel Oeksiy Mes, known by the nickname “Moonfish”, was one of these soldiers. On August 26, he crashed during a large-scale Russian air strike. His crash was the first reported loss, just weeks after the first deliveries of the fighter jets began. The KyivPost calls it a high-profile setback for Ukraine. (lw)
#NATO #state #supplies #F16 #fighter #jets #Ukraine #war