Denmark says no official word on F-16 jets delay, we expect to receive them in spring – Ukraine's Air Force

Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for Ukraine's Air Force, has stressed that there were no official reports from Denmark about the delay in the delivery of F-16 jets to Ukraine, adding that Ukraine expects to receive them this spring.

Source: Ihnat during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Details: The spokesperson was asked to comment on a story published by the Danish newspaper Berlingske, which cited the Danish Defence Ministry as saying that Denmark's delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine was delayed by six months.

Copenhagen was supposed to deliver the first six warplanes by the new year 2024, but the ministry told the newspaper that their delivery was expected in the second quarter.

Quote from Ihnat: "Looking at the website of the Danish Ministry of Defence, I didn't see any statement. So, the newspaper refers to some of its sources. This is immediately noticed and has turned into the mainstream in our media.

There are no official statements on what the article reads. Let's look at all statements not through the media, as the Western media often surprise us with some statements citing their sources. There are official statements; we should stick to them."

More details: Ihnat noted that it made no sense to deliver F-16s by the end of 2023, given that the infrastructure for the aircraft had not been prepared.

The military official explained that Ukraine expected both the fighter jets' delivery and pilot training completion this spring.

The Air Force spokesman mentioned the training of Ukrainian pilots for the F-16s in three countries.

Quote: "A group of pilots trained in the UK are 2023 graduates, and they will spend up to two years training before being transferred to the F-16s.

The other group is studying in the US in Arizona, where the Americans have announced that the training will last until the end of 2024. Perhaps some of them will have their training completed sooner.

The group that we sent to Denmark is advanced and already undergoing training, and pilots are already flying the F-16s with instructors...

Different groups have different training periods in different countries. As for Denmark, this is an advanced group. Both fighters and pilots will come from there as soon as possible. When will it happen? Well, we are still expecting [to see them] in spring."

Background: In August, Denmark announced that it would provide Ukraine with a total of 19 F-16 fighter jets.

In October, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Denmark planned to deliver the first F-16s to Ukraine in spring 2024, although this would also depend on the readiness of pilots, technicians and infrastructure.

Support UP or become our patron!