Copenhagen may also talk about donating a few of its fleet of the fighter jets to Kiev
Denmark’s appearing protection minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated on Monday that the NATO nation had begun coaching Ukrainian pilots to function F-16 fighter jets, and that discussions are happening in Copenhagen about donating a few of its fleet of army plane to Kiev.
Lund Poulsen, who has served because the Scandinavian nation’s non permanent protection minister since February, stated Denmark “has taken the step of beginning a coaching and additional schooling effort for the Ukrainian pilots,” in keeping with Danish broadcaster DR.
“We may also contemplate whether or not we should always make a concrete donation to Ukraine of the Danish F-16 fighters, and what number of there ought to be,” he added.
The Danish authorities official additionally said that the entire phasing out of its fleet of 30 lively F-16s, which was initially deliberate for 2027, had been introduced ahead to 2025. They are going to be changed by 27 state-of-the-art F-35 jets. This swap will start in late 2023.
Ukrainian pilots would require a minimal of six to eight months of coaching, Lund Poulsen advised DR, however “this doesn’t imply that you simply can not decide beforehand. However [the F-16 fighter jets] shall be in Denmark till 2024.”
Kiev has petitioned Western nations to produce fighter jets to help the nation in its battle with Moscow. Regardless of initially being reluctant to take action, the USA and different members of the NATO bloc have now allowed Ukrainian pilots to be educated find out how to function F-16 plane. Nevertheless, none have but dedicated to supplying Kiev with the fighter jets.
Any donation of F-16s from Denmark to Ukraine should additionally include weaponry, in keeping with Main Karsten Marrup of the Royal Danish Protection School. “A weapon donation should be included. Missiles, bombs and the like should be included within the donation, so that you’ve got all the pieces you want to have the ability to use the planes,” he advised DR.
The coaching and potential provide to Ukraine of F-16 fighters follows an prolonged inside debate in Washington over the potential dangers of Ukraine utilizing the jets to assault targets on Russian territory, doubtlessly escalating the battle.
The F-16, which is greater than 40 years previous, stays the commonest fixed-wing plane in world army service right this moment. The American-made fighter jet serves, or has served, within the militaries of at the very least 25 international locations. The US retains management of re-exportation rights of any nation that has F-16s in its army fleet.
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