ISLAMABAD: US official announced that the United States has granted approval for F-16 fighter jets to be dispatched to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands. These jets will serve as a defense against potential Russian aggression, and they will be deployed once the training of pilots is finished.
Ukraine has taken proactive measures in its pursuit of US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets to effectively challenge Russian air dominance.
Denmark and the Netherlands have received official commitments from Washington, affirming that the United States will accelerate the approval process for transferring F-16s to Ukraine once the pilots are trained, as stated by the official.
“We welcome Washington’s decision to pave the way for sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine,” Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra stated in a post X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Now, we will further discuss the subject with our European partners”, he further stated.
NATO Allies’ Support for Ukraine: Denmark and Netherlands Leading F-16 Training and Transfer
Recently, Denmark and the Netherlands formally requested these assurances. The approval of military jet transfers from allied nations to Ukraine necessitates the United States’ endorsement.
A consortium of 11 nations was scheduled to commence training Ukrainian pilots for F-16 fighter jet operations this month in Denmark. Acting Defence Minister of Denmark, Troels Poulsen, expressed in July the nation’s anticipation of observing “results” stemming from the training by early 2024.
NATO members Denmark and the Netherlands have taken a leading role in international endeavors, spearheading the training of pilots and support personnel, aircraft maintenance, and the ultimate facilitation of Ukraine’s acquisition of F-16s for utilization in its conflict with Russia.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte articulated in May that the Netherlands is actively contemplating the provision of F-16s to Ukraine, as the country is presently in the process of decommissioning these fighter jets from its own armed forces.
According to data furnished by the Dutch defense ministry, the Netherlands presently possesses 24 operational F-16s, slated for phased retirement by mid-2024. Furthermore, an additional 18 of these jets are currently available for purchase, with 12 already provisionally sold.
Challenges And Anticipated Impact
US State Secretary Antony Blinken personally dispatched letters to his Danish and Dutch counterparts, providing them with the assurance that the requests would receive approval, as confirmed by the US official.
Blinken said in a letter to the two officials, “I am writing to express the United States’ full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors.”
“It remains critical that Ukraine is able to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty”, Blinken said in a letter to the two officials.
He said the approval of the requests would allow Ukraine to take “full advantage of its new capabilities as soon as the first set of pilots completes their training.”
In May, US President Joe Biden sanctioned training initiatives for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s. Alongside the training conducted in Denmark, the establishment of a training center in Romania was also endorsed.
Late on Wednesday, Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat conveyed on Ukrainian television that Kyiv would not possess the capability to operate US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during the upcoming autumn and winter seasons.
Privately, US officials have expressed that F-16 jets would offer limited assistance to Ukraine in its ongoing counteroffensive and are unlikely to be a decisive factor upon their eventual arrival, considering the presence of Russian air defense systems and the contested skies above Ukraine.
Lockheed Martin is the manufacturer of the F-16 aircraft.
