Ukrainian air force pilots and support personnel are gearing up for F-16 training, scheduled to commence in August at bases in Denmark and Romania. The training initiative, guided by a coalition of 11 countries formed at the NATO summit in Lithuania, aims to enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities. While the United States is not part of the coalition and has not committed to sending aircraft to Ukraine, it has expressed its support for other countries willing to contribute their surplus F-16 Vipers to assist in the fight. Denmark and the Netherlands, which recently transitioned to F-35s, are expected to lead the training efforts due to their mothballed F-16 fleets.
During the NATO summit, Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov emphasized the importance of defending their civilian population, critical infrastructure, and educational institutions. He expressed gratitude to Denmark and the Netherlands for their exemplary leadership in the coalition-building process.
The exact number of F-16s to be transferred to Ukraine remains uncertain, but officials have indicated a need for at least 48 aircraft to shift the balance against Russian forces. Reznikov expressed hope that the arrival of these new fighters will make a significant impact on the ongoing conflict within approximately six months. Additionally, the coalition is contemplating the inclusion of other aircraft types to further support Ukraine's war effort, although specific details have not yet been disclosed.
