Denmark and the Netherlands have formally declared they will supply F-16s to Ukraine, but the aircraft will not be delivered until key conditions are met, leaders say.
The two European nations declared their intention to provide the fighter aircraft on Aug. 20 as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands, where he received a close-up look at two of the F-16s that could be transferred. Zelenskyy later declared 42 aircraft would be provided, although it was unclear whether they would from both countries or just the Netherlands. Danish officials later confirmed they would provide 19 aircraft.
A joint statement by the two countries declares such a transfer only would take place once the infrastructure at Ukrainian airfields is made suitable for the aircraft’s operation and sufficient Ukrainian personnel have been trained on the type. That training, also being led by the two countries, is expected to begin shortly.
“This is a next step in our support for Ukraine,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says, “a long-term step, which sends a clear signal that we will continue supporting Ukraine, with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes: military support, humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts.
“Denmark stands firmly by Ukraine’s side, and the donation of F-16 fighter jets is yet another clear example of our unwavering support for Ukraine’s freedom struggle against the continued Russian aggression,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen says. “Denmark will do everything we can to expand the coalition so more countries can help with the delivery of the F-16 fighter jets that Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defense.”
The declarations came just days after Washington declared it was comfortable with the F-16 transfer once training is complete. U.S. officials previously were opposed to the transfer of fighter aircraft over concerns it could escalate the conflict, along with tensions between East and West.
However, there are doubts among some senior military figures about whether such a transfer will have a significant impact on the outcome of the conflict. Neither Russia nor Ukraine so far has been able to achieve any sort of air superiority over Ukrainian skies due to the prevalence of ground-based air defenses used by both sides.
Both Denmark’s and the Netherlands’ F-16s fleets soon will be bigger than needed, as both countries are transitioning from the F-16 to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Danish officials say their F-16s will be transferred gradually so their country’s planned transition to F-35 is not affected. Ukraine reportedly wants to receive around 40-50 F-16s to create three front-line squadrons.
F-16s may not be the only Western fighter joining the Ukrainian Air Force, however. Zelenskyy has suggested Saab Gripens, potentially provided by Sweden, could join the flight line as well. In remarks following a meeting in Sweden with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson a day earlier, Zelenskyy said there had been a breakthrough regarding the potential supply of the Gripen.
“Step-by-step, negotiation by negotiation, we are getting closer to the fact that Gripen fighters will appear in our sky,” he said, adding that Ukrainian personnel had begun training on the aircraft.
Kristersson did not mention any negotiations around the Gripen in his statements.
Advocates of the Gripen transfer note the aircraft has been designed for operations from austere locations, can be supported by a small number of conscripted personnel with limited training and can be adapted to use long-range air-to-air weapons such as the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range missile.
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