The Netherlands may deliver the first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine as early as this summer. This will happen after Denmark sends the first aircraft to Ukraine, citing Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren.
The minister said she expects that the first F-16s would be delivered to Ukraine as early as this summer and that the supply of these combat aircraft will be put on a "constant flow" from then on, "increasing the number and strengthening the Ukrainian Air Force".
She added that Ukraine will initially receive fighter jets from Denmark, followed by deliveries from the Netherlands. She described this as a "joint effort."
In the same statement, she suggested that while the F-16s may not be able to change the course of the war, they will significantly bolster Ukraine's Air Force.
"The jets will be phased in. You have to first use them to see the effect. And at some point, it will make the Air Force much stronger, and it might also create air superiority. But it's not something that can happen overnight when you get your first F-16s. So, if people expect that, I think we have to be a little bit more realistic," Ollongren said.
F-16 for Ukraine
Last year, several NATO member countries decided to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and train our pilots to operate these aircraft. As reported by Politico, Kyiv has been urging the West to intensify efforts regarding pilot training, as it is dissatisfied with the pace and scale of the current efforts.
