Speaking at a briefing in Vilnius alongside her Lithuanian counterpart, Ollongren highlighted that this initiative follows Denmark’s commitment to commence their deliveries in the summer.
As reported by Delfi, the delivery schedule aligns with a coordinated plan involving multiple allies. The Dutch Defense Minister detailed that the comprehensive plan includes training Ukrainian pilots and servicing personnel, alongside transferring the actual aircraft. "We have a training center in Romania, and the training of Ukrainians is currently underway in Denmark, the USA, and other countries. If all preparations are completed on time in Ukraine, Denmark will deliver the first planes this summer, followed by the Netherlands," she explained.
Ollongren further stated that the Netherlands intends to donate a total of 24 F-16s to Ukraine. The timing of these transfers will depend on the readiness of Ukrainian pilots and technical staff, as well as necessary infrastructure.
This effort to equip Ukraine with F-16s involves a coalition including Denmark, the USA, and other partner nations. "It’s a challenging process, but it’s set to happen. We are hopeful that the supply of F-16s can commence with Denmark this summer and subsequently from the Netherlands," added Ollongren.
In late March, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba remarked that Ukraine is expected to receive Western F-16 fighter jets as per pre-agreed plans and schedules. Notably, on April 17, three F-16s arrived in Romania for training purposes. Ukrainian pilots are currently receiving training in Denmark and the US, focusing on mission-critical tasks such as missile and rocket strikes.
This initiative marks a significant step in bolstering Ukraine's air capabilities, with the fighter coalition planning to transfer a substantial number of F-16s equipped with advanced weaponry, capable of engaging targets beyond the front lines.
