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DENMARK AND UKRAINE

Denmark expects to send first F-16s to Ukraine in spring 2024

Denmark is likely to be able to deliver the first of the F-16 fighter aircraft pledged for donation to Ukraine in the spring of next year, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on Wednesday.

Published: 11 October 2023 14:42 CEST
Denmark expects to send first F-16s to Ukraine in spring 2024
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg make a statement at the start of Zelensky's visit to NATOs headquarters. Photo:Handout/AFP/Ritzau Scanpix

Poulsen commented on the progress of the agreement to donate the aircraft prior to a meeting at Nato headquarters in Brussels.

“It is our expectation that we will be able to donate the first contribution of fighter aircraft to Ukraine in March or April,” he said.

“But a lot of work is needed to ensure the Ukrainians are capable of handling them,” he said.

Ukraine’s military must be capable of both servicing the aircraft and protecting them from Russian attacks, he noted.

Denmark earlier said that of the 19 jets it will donate to Ukraine, six would be delivered by the end of this year, eight in 2024 and five in 2025.

Poulsen is scheduled to meet other countries involved in the donation in Brussels. The Netherlands has pledged to donate F-16s and train pilots along with Denmark.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also expected to attend.

READ ALSO: Danish PM Frederiksen addresses Ukraine’s parliament after F-16 pledge

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DENMARK AND UKRAINE

Denmark to stop training Ukrainian F-16 pilots

Denmark’s air force will stop training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets after 2024, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on Monday.

Published: 24 June 2024 18:08 CEST
Denmark to stop training Ukrainian F-16 pilots

Poulsen confirmed the Danish decision at a joint press conference with Norwegian counterpart Bjørn Arild Gram, citing “respect for” the fact that the Danish air force is in the process of switching from using F-16s to F-35 fighter jets, and will be using its Skrydstrup air base, where the Ukrainian pilots are currently trained, for this purpose.

Denmark will still contribute to the training of Ukrainian pilots outside of Denmark, Poulsen also said.

READ ALSO: Denmark boosts Ukraine military aid by 4.4 billion kroner

Ukrainian pilots are currently trained in Romania as well as in Denmark, but no decision has been made as to whether Denmark could contribute in Romania, he said.

Alongside the Netherlands, Denmark has led an international training coalition for Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots.

Denmark has also committed to donating 19 F-16s to Ukraine, with the first four aircraft due to arrive in Ukraine “this summer”, according to earlier reports.

Norway has also pledged a number of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Two Norwegian F-16s are involved in the training at Skrydstrup.

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