U.S. Approves Netherlands and Denmark to Deliver F-16s to Ukraine
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — In a significant development for Ukraine, the United States has given its approval for the Netherlands and Denmark to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Officials in Washington and Europe confirmed the decision on Friday, although it is unlikely that the deployment of these jets will have an immediate impact on the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The exact timeline for the arrival of the first F-16s in the conflict zone is yet to be determined. Ukrainian pilots will need to undergo at least six months of training on the new aircraft before they can be deployed, according to officials.
Ukraine has long sought these sophisticated fighter jets to gain an edge in combat. The Ukrainian military recently launched a counteroffensive against Russian forces without air cover, leaving their troops vulnerable to Russian aviation and artillery.
Despite this development, Air Force Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. air forces in Europe and Africa, stated that the F-16s are unlikely to be a game-changer for Ukraine. He added that it could take approximately four to five years to fully prepare F-16 squadrons for battle.
Meanwhile, attack helicopter pilots in eastern Ukraine have welcomed the news. They believe that the introduction of these advanced fighter jets could significantly shift the balance of power in favor of Ukraine, as Russia currently enjoys superiority in the skies.
The Ukrainian air forces supporting infantry currently rely on decades-old Soviet-era planes, which are susceptible to air-to-air missile attacks from Russian fighter jets. Capt. Yevgen Rakita, a spokesman for the 18th Army Aviation Brigade, stressed that “a modern war cannot be won without aviation capabilities.”
The decision to deliver F-16s to Ukraine aims to expedite the provision of warplanes as soon as Ukrainian pilots complete their training. A U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan had sent a letter to Dutch and Danish counterparts to offer formal assurance of fast-track approval for all requests to transfer F-16s to Ukraine.
Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen confirmed that the training of Ukrainian pilots will commence this month. A coalition of 11 Western countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, and the United Kingdom, pledged in July to train Ukrainian pilots for F-16s.
The Danish Defense Ministry has announced that it will deliver some of its F-16s to Ukraine after receiving its new F-35 jet fighters. The first four F-35s are expected to be delivered by October 1.
It should be noted that Washington’s approval is necessary for the transfer of these aircraft, as they are made in the United States.
Ukraine’s Western allies have previously been cautious in providing requested military support to Kyiv. However, President Joe Biden’s authorization in May to train Ukrainian forces and eventually provide the F-16s was the outcome of months of deliberation and negotiations with allies.
The U.S. administration had concerns about escalating tensions with Russia and the difficulties associated with training Ukrainian personnel to operate and maintain advanced F-16s.
Although the delivery of the F-16s is expected to take several months, U.S. officials have emphasized that these aircraft, like the advanced U.S. Abrams tanks, are critical for Ukraine’s long-term security.
Currently, Ukraine primarily relies on older aircraft, such as Russian-made MiG-29 and Sukhoi jets. F-16s offer newer technology, enhanced targeting capabilities, and greater versatility, according to experts.
In other developments, Russian officials claimed that their air defenses intercepted drone attacks that targeted central Moscow and the country’s ships in the Black Sea. They attributed these attempted strikes to Ukraine, but the claims could not be independently verified.
Additionally, a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship successfully sailed along a temporary Black Sea corridor established by Ukraine for merchant shipping. The Joseph Schulte container vessel reached the coast of Istanbul without encountering any interference from the Russian navy.