In 2023, Denmark’s F-16 fleet comprises 34 F-16AM and 10 F-16BM fighter jets, with 30 out of these 44 aircraft being operational. However, not all of them will be sent to Ukraine. According to Army Recognition’s report on April 17, 2024, a number of jets have been sold to Argentina, amounting to 24 aircraft. This transaction fulfills Argentina’s enduring requirement to upgrade from its Mirage planes.
Ambassador Ole Egberg Mikkelsen, in an interview with Ukrainian news outlet Mi-Ukraina, assured that the planes would indeed be provided to Ukraine. “Don’t worry; there will definitely be airplanes for Ukraine,” he stated. This confirmation aligns with previous declarations by the Danish Defense Ministry, which in January disclosed plans to donate 19 F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine.
The decommissioning of Denmark’s F-16 fleet is part of a broader transition to the more advanced F-35 model. Notably, 24 of Denmark’s F-16s have been sold to Argentina, influenced by geopolitical considerations and the US authorization of this transaction in October 2023. This leaves Denmark with 19 F-16s that are earmarked for Ukraine.
This move by Denmark is a segment of a coordinated effort by several NATO countries to supply Ukraine with a collective total of 65 F-16s. These contributions are viewed as pivotal for upgrading Ukraine’s predominantly Soviet-era air force, as expressed by Lars Peder Haga, an associate professor at the Norwegian Air Force School. Despite the promise of this modernized firepower, there is a prevailing recognition that the integration of these jets into Ukraine’s forces will be challenging due to factors such as infrastructure requirements and training needs for Ukrainian pilots.
Ukraine is expecting to welcome its first F-16 by the summer of 2024, as stated by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who underlined Belgium’s significant role in the training of Ukrainian pilots. The delivery is part of the support following the approval by the United States for Denmark and the Netherlands to provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Additionally, Norway’s commitment to supply Ukraine with F-16 jets equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry was also cited by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
This assistance to Ukraine, however, has been met with some skepticism. A senior Ukrainian military officer told Politico earlier in April, “F-16s were needed in 2023; they won’t be right for 2024”. “A single system can’t change the situation on the battlefield,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told German newspaper Bild earlier this month. “This isn’t a silver bullet that could change the course of the war.”
Ukraine confronts an intensifying artillery shortage and faces increasing pressure from Russian mechanized forces, the addition of F-16s could offer substantial support to its air defense, even if the impact may be limited. Ukrainian officials have pointed to the importance of integrating F-16s as a key component of a comprehensive air defense system capable of countering Russian missile and drone strikes and restricting Russian tactical aviation operations.
Relevant articles:
– NATO Ally Confirms F-16 to Ukraine as ‘Entire Fleet’ Decommissioned, Newsweek, 04/23/2024
– Denmark Confirms Transfer of Entire F-16 Fleet to Ukraine Following US F-35 Acquisition, Army Recognition, Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:59:50 GMT
– Ukraine to welcome first F-16 fighter jet by summer— Belgian PM, Yahoo Singapore News, Mon, 22 Apr 2024 15:09:19 GMT