Norway to deliver six F-16s to Ukraine, first ones to arrive this year

The Norwegian government has decided to provide Ukraine with six F-16 fighter jets, the first of which will be delivered in 2024.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the press service of the Norwegian government

Details: Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said that Ukraine's ability to defend itself against airstrikes is extremely important in the fight against Russian aggression.

"Norway has decided to provide six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. We plan to start delivering the aircraft in 2024," he announced.

Oslo announced back in 2023 that a certain number of the F-16s would be delivered to Ukraine as part of the Danish-led aircraft coalition. Støre made the announcement during his visit to Ukraine on its Independence Day. 

He noted that Western fighters would make a significant contribution to Ukraine's defence against airstrikes, in combination with air defence systems.

"Norway has been involved in the training of Ukrainian pilots in Denmark since autumn 2023 and will continue to support the training," Støre said.

The government press release reiterated that with the arrival of the first Western fighter jets in Ukraine and their increasing number, the issue of sufficient weapons and maintenance for them would also arise. This will be addressed within the framework of a broad international coalition.

"This work involves Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Portugal, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Norway," the communiqué said. 

In 2021, Norway began to gradually decommission its F-16s as it switched to the new F-35s. A total of 32 fourth-generation fighters were sold to Romania, and some are still in Norway. 

Background: In early July, it was announced that the Netherlands would soon begin delivering the first of 24 promised F-16s to Ukraine.

Read more on this topic: The F-16s, Ukraine's "irreversible" path to NATO and negotiations with Russia: an interview with the Netherlands’ new defence minister

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