DefMin: DK’s F-16s will be the first to go to Ukraine

Despite the delay of Denmark’s donation of F-16s to Ukraine, the Danish aircraft are expected to be the first F-16s that Ukraine will have available in the war against Russia, according to Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen who was in Nyborg on Sunday for the Social Liberal New Year’s. “It is my clear expectation that the first F-16s will be the Danish ones that will be donated,” he says. On Saturday, the Defence Ministry told Berlingske that the first six F-16 planes to Ukraine will be delayed by up to six months. They were originally expected to depart for Ukraine around New Year. However, with the current schedule, the donation is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2024.
     The delay is due to several things, according to Troels Lund Poulsen. “But one of the crucial things is that it has taken longer and is taking longer to train pilots to fly the F-16. It has been both in relation to their language skills, but it is also in relation to how much training is needed in the aircraft,” he says. Six Ukrainian pilots are currently in Denmark, training in the F-16s. In addition, more are on the way when they have completed their language training, which does not take place in Denmark, Lund Poulsen said. /ritzau/