"It is difficult to set a fixed timetable for the donation of F-16 fighter jets, because there are several conditions that must be met in order for Ukraine to use the donated aircraft,” Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.
Read also: Ukrainian pilots to complete F-16 fighter jet training in the U.S. by summer 2024
“But I have informed the conciliation circle that we are now working to ensure that everything goes smoothly this summer, when we expect to be able to hand over the first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, if the preparations go as planned."
The final delivery of the first Danish F-16s depends, among other things, on the training of Ukrainian pilots and personnel, as well as the necessary logistics and infrastructure in Ukraine.
On Feb. 20, CNN reported that the first four Ukrainian pilots would complete their F-16 fighter jet training program by the summer of 2024.
Read also: Ukraine Air Force preparing infrastructure for F-16 transfer with no concrete timeline at this stage
The first F-16 jets are expected to arrive in Ukraine around June 2024, Foreign Policy reported on Feb. 18, referencing European officials. Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, cautioned against locking in specific dates for the aircraft's handover from international allies.
Previously, the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine was anticipated in the first half of 2024.
The Netherlands and Denmark pledged in Aug. 2023 to jointly transfer 61 American F-16 fighters to Ukraine, following authorization from the United States.
Norway has also confirmed its intention to supply F-16s, and Belgium has committed to transferring F-16s to Ukraine starting in 2025.
In a move to expedite the process, the Netherlands started the handover of the first 18 of 42 F-16 fighters to Ukraine in December 2023, later bumping that figure to 24.
As these preparations unfold, Ukrainian pilots are currently being trained on F-16s in various allied nations.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Section: Nation
Author: Alla Shcherbak
