Netherlands’ Air Pressure F-16 fighter jets fly throughout a media day illustrating how NATO Air Policing safeguards the Allies’ airspace within the northern and northeastern area of the Alliance, July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/Report Picture Achieve Licensing Rights
WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) – America has authorized sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands to shield in opposition to Russian invaders once pilot coaching is done, a U.S. authentic stated on Thursday.
Ukraine has actively sought the U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to lend a hand it counter Russian air superiority.
Washington gave Denmark and the Netherlands authentic assurances that the US will expedite approval of switch requests for F-16s to visit Ukraine when the pilots are educated, the authentic stated.
“We welcome Washington’s resolution to pave the way in which for sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine,” Dutch International Minister Wopke Hoekstra stated on messaging platform X, previously referred to as Twitter.
“Now, we will be able to additional speak about the topic with our Eu companions.”
Denmark additionally stated offering Ukraine with the jets would now be mentioned.
“The federal government has stated a number of instances {that a} donation is a herbal subsequent step after coaching. We’re discussing it with shut allies, and I be expecting we will be able to quickly have the ability to be extra concrete about that,” Danish defence minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen advised information company Ritzau on Friday.
A coalition of eleven nations will get started coaching Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16 fighter jets later this month in Denmark, the Danish defence ministry stated on Friday.
The rustic’s performing Protection Minister Troels Poulsen stated in July that the rustic was hoping to peer “effects” from the educational in early 2024.
NATO contributors Denmark and the Netherlands had been main world efforts to coach pilots in addition to toughen group of workers, deal with airplane and in the long run permit Ukraine to acquire F-16s to be used in its warfare with Russia.
Dutch Top Minister Mark Rutte in Would possibly stated the Netherlands was once severely making an allowance for offering Ukraine with F-16s, as it’s these days phasing out the fighter jets from its personal defense force.
In step with figures from the Dutch defence ministry, the Netherlands these days has 24 operational F-16s which shall be phased out by way of mid-2024. Any other 18 of the jets are these days to be had on the market, of which 12 had been provisionally bought.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken despatched letters to his Danish and Dutch opposite numbers assuring them that the requests can be authorized, the U.S. authentic stated.
“I’m writing to specific the US’ complete toughen for each the switch of F-16 fighter airplane to Ukraine and for the educational of Ukrainian pilots by way of certified F-16 instructors,” Blinken stated in a letter to the 2 officers, a duplicate of which was once observed by way of Reuters.
Blinken stated, “It stays vital that Ukraine is in a position to shield itself in opposition to ongoing Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty.”
He stated the approval of the requests would permit Ukraine to take “complete benefit of its new features once the primary set of pilots whole their coaching.”
U.S. President Joe Biden recommended coaching methods for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s in Would possibly. Along with coaching in Denmark, a coaching heart was once to be arrange in Romania.
Kyiv will be unable to function U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets this coming autumn and iciness, Ukraine air power spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat advised Ukrainian tv past due on Wednesday.
U.S. officers have privately stated that F-16 jets would had been of little lend a hand to Ukraine in its present counteroffensive and is probably not a recreation changer once they in the end arrive given Russian air protection techniques and contested skies over Ukraine.
The F-16 is made by way of Lockheed Martin (LMT.N).
Reporting Through Steve Holland; further reporting by way of Idrees Ali and Bart Meijer, Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen; Modifying by way of Cynthia Osterman and Toby Chopra
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Agree with Rules.
