The delivery of the first Danish F-16 fighter jets destined for Ukraine could be delayed by up to six months in a blow to Kyiv's hopes of challenging Russia in the air in the early part of 2024.
Ukraine will receive the initial six fighter jets in the second quarter of 2024, rather than in the first days of the year as originally suggested, according to Denmark's Defense Ministry.
"As previously announced, the Danish government has decided to donate a total of 19 Danish F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine," the ministry said in a statement to Newsweek.
"The final handover of the jets depends on a number of criteria in order to secure that Ukraine will be able to operate the jets after the donation. The criteria include successful training of Ukrainian personnel, and establishment of necessary infrastructure and sustainment in Ukraine," the Danish Defense Ministry added. "As a result, the timeline of the donation is subject to change, but is of now expected to happen during the second quarter of 2024."
The change in timetable was originally reported by Danish outlet Berlingske. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian air force appeared to suggest shortly after that Ukraine had received no official confirmation of the reports, and that it expected to receive the jets in the spring.
Newsweek has reached out to Ukraine's air force for comment via email.
In August 2023, Denmark and the Netherlands announced that they would send F-16s to Ukraine, with the first six fighter jets due to arrive in Ukraine around the New Year.
Kyiv had clamored for the jets, which would boost Ukraine's ability to contest Russia in the skies and help launch more strikes on key targets. The F-16s are equipped with more modern avionics and radars and are designed to launch the NATO-standard weapons Ukraine has been using with its older, Soviet-era jets.
Ukraine's air force has also weathered nearly two years of war against Russia, cutting down its available aircraft.
But integrating the new, more advanced platform is no easy task, requiring new facilities, training, infrastructure, and upgrades to the aircraft before Ukrainian pilots can take to the skies.
On December 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Dutch government was starting preparations to deliver a batch of 18 F-16 jets to Ukraine.
"The delivery of F-16s is one of the most important elements of the agreements made on military support for Ukraine," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Norway said earlier this week that it will send two F-16 fighter jets to Denmark to help train Ukrainian pilots on the aircraft. Belgium will also send two F-16s to Denmark for Ukrainian pilot training throughout 2024, Belgian broadcaster RTBF reported on Thursday.
The U.K. Defense Ministry said in late December that the "first cohort" of Ukrainian pilots being trained by the U.K. military have completed basic training in the country, and are "now learning to fly F-16 fighter jets in Denmark, having completed a basic programme of training in the UK."
In early November, a number of F-16s arrived at a Romanian facility designed to train Ukrainian pilots, with others being trained at an air base in Arizona.
Update 01/08/2023, 11:15 a.m. ET: This article was updated with a response from the Danish Defense Ministry.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ellie Cook is a Newsweek security and defense reporter based in London, U.K. Her work focuses largely on the Russia-Ukraine ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
