Ukraine to receive the first Danish F-16s this summer

The first F-16 fighter jets delivered by Denmark are due to arrive in Ukraine this summer.

The Danish Ministry of Defense reported on this.

The Danish Ministry of Defense has announced that the first Danish F-16 fighter jet will be delivered to Ukraine this summer.

This is outlined in a statement by the international “aviation coalition” led by Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States, which coordinates the training of Ukrainian pilots and preparations for the delivery of the first F-16 fighter jets.

“It is difficult to set a fixed schedule for the delivery of F-16s, as there are several conditions that must be met before Ukraine can use the aircraft.

However, I have informed the conciliation commission that we are now working to ensure that everything goes smoothly this summer when we expect to be able to deliver the first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine if preparations go according to plan,” Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen shared.

Eight Ukrainian pilots started their training in Denmark in August 2023. The training takes place at the air base in Skrydstrup, where the Danish Air Force’s fighter wing, consisting of the 727th and 730th squadrons, is stationed. Moreover, 65 personnel will be trained in maintaining and servicing the jets.

However, the final delivery of the first fighter jets depends on whether Ukrainian pilots and personnel are fully trained and whether the necessary logistics and infrastructure are deployed.

Danish F-16s

Denmark has pledged to transfer 19 F-16 fighter jets, which were modernized under the Mid-Life Update (MLU) program in the 2000s.

During the MLU program, the future Ukrainian fighter jets were overhauled and received, in particular, a more modern AN/APG-66(V)2 radar.

The number of aircraft that may be transferred in the first batch has not been announced. However, last month, in a report on delays in preparations, the Danish government announced plans to transfer 6 fighter jets.

According to the Arizona National Guard, the first four Ukrainian pilots undergoing training in the United States are to complete their training on U.S. F-16 fighter jets by summer.