The Netherlands and Denmark are have announced to donate 61 F-16 fighter planes to Ukraine.
The fighter planes, however, would not be delivered any time soon. The planes would be delivered once the training of Ukraininan pilots and crew has been completed which would at least 10 months.
Moreover, the delivery of the fighter planes would take place in batches and deliveries are expected to be compelted some time in 2025, by when the Ukraine War should be in its fourth year.
Even as the Ukraine has secured supplies of US-made F-16s from the Netherlands and Denmark, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also sought Gripen fifgher planes from Sweden, but the country has so far refused by saying that the country needs those fighters for its own defence, according to The New York Times.
Denmark to provide 19 F-16 fighter planes to Ukraine
Of the 61 F-16 fighter planes to Ukraine, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen would provide 19 fighters. She also gave the timeline of fighters.
The Guardian reported Frederiksen as saying that the country would "hopefully" give six fighters around New Year, eight more in 2023, and the remaining five in 2025.
While Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte did not give a number, Zelenskyy said 42 jets are coming from there, reported Guardian. Notably, the Dutch air force has a total of 42 F-16s.
"Mark Rutte and I reached an agreement on the number of F-16s to be transferred to Ukraine once our pilots and engineers have completed their training. 42 jets. And this is just the beginning," said Zelenskyy in a statement.
The donations of F-16s to Ukraine come after the United States approved the transfer last week. These planes would be provided after six months of pilot training and another four months of training for the crew to learn technical English. This is the minimum timeframe required.
Why does Ukraine want F-16 fighters?
Ukraine currnently uses a fleet of Soviet Union-era fighter planes. The US-made F-16 fighters are advanced and would give it an edge over the Russians on the battlefield. Ukrainians have not used air power much in the war and said they believe F-16 could change that.
The Guardian earlier reported, "A curious feature of the Ukraine war has been its relatively limited use of air power. Russia’s anti-aircraft defences are considered effective, and Moscow has been reluctant to risk its own air force beyond the frontline, as it also wants to minimise losses. The former US Air Force general Philip Breedlove has described the air situation as one of 'mutual denial'. Nevertheless, Kyiv hoped squadrons of fast jets could be used to support a breakthrough, or least help blunt a major Russian attack."
Zelenskyy has said that “no air defense system will be perfect” without modern fighters, a reference to F-16s and others that he has been asking from the West.
