Ukraine will be able to receive its first F-16 fighter jets in the summer of 2024. According to Foreign Policy, this likely refers to June.
The agency analyzed statements from European leaders at the Munich Security Conference.
"I think that in June, we will see them in Ukraine," said Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas.
Another European official present in Munich also confirmed these timelines.
"The Ukrainian government expects that 12 pilots will be trained on the fighter jets by the end of the U.S. fiscal year," the authors note.
F-16s for Ukraine
Earlier, Ukraine's allies announced the formation of an aviation coalition to transfer modern F-16 fighter jets to the country. The Netherlands and Denmark lead the coalition.
Recently, it became official that the first group of Ukrainian pilots completed their basic training program in the UK and started training on F-16 fighter jets in Denmark.
At the end of December, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that the government had decided to prepare the first 18 F-16 fighter jets for transfer to Ukraine.
Rutte also stated that transferring the fighter jets is proceeding according to schedule. He emphasized that Ukraine will receive at least 24 aircraft, possibly more, but not fewer.
