Our NATO allies the Netherlands and Denmark will be sending F-16 warplanes to Ukraine, following the approval by the U.S. for their transfer, Reuters reports. The planes will be provided as soon as training is completed, projected to be next spring.
The Biden Administration has been annoyingly hesitant to approve the supply of the jets and other offensive weapons to Ukraine over concern that Russian war criminal Vladimir Putin might escalate his war in Ukraine, a threat that Putin makes regularly. The U.S. isn't planning on supplying F-16s to Ukraine out of its own significant inventory, despite the fact that they're being phased out and replaced with the more advanced F-35. From the Reuters report:
"Ukraine has actively sought the U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to help it counter Russian air superiority.
Washington gave Denmark and the Netherlands official assurances that the United States will expedite approval of transfer requests for F-16s to go to Ukraine when the pilots are trained, the official said. [snip]
A coalition of 11 countries will start training Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16 fighter jets later this month in Denmark, the Danish defence ministry said on Friday.
The country's acting Defense Minister Troels Poulsen said in July that the country hoped to see "results" from the training in early 2024.
NATO members Denmark and the Netherlands have been leading international efforts to train pilots as well as support staff, maintain aircraft and ultimately enable Ukraine to obtain F-16s for use in its war with Russia." (our emphasis)
Doubters in the U.S. have downplayed the F-16's proposed combat role in Ukraine, despite it's air superiority and versatility over what Russia is using and Russian air defense systems. Ukraine has able and sophisticated pilots who have flown most modern Russian made aircraft, and should prove to be more than equal to their Russian counterparts if given the right aircraft. We just hope this isn't a case of too little too late.
(photo: Lockheed Martin)
