In a significant joint declaration, the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands and Denmark have committed to providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.
This announcement was made during the visit of Ukrainian President Zelensky to the two NATO countries.
Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, elaborated on the specifics of Denmark’s contribution during a joint press conference with President Zelenskiy at the Skrydstrup airbase in Denmark. “We know that your freedom is our freedom. We also know that you need more weapons,” Frederiksen expressed.
Denmark is set to dispatch a total of 19 jets, beginning with the delivery of the first six around the New Year. The subsequent consignments include eight jets in 2024 and the remaining five in the following year.
On the Netherlands’ side, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte shared some insights but left some details open-ended. While the Netherlands currently has a fleet of 42 F-16s available, the decision on the exact number to be donated to Ukraine is yet to be finalised.
Rutte’s statements were reinforced by a tweet from General Onno Eichelsheim, Netherlands Chief of Defence:
“Ukraine will receive Dutch F-16’s. 🇺🇦🇳🇱 Delivery of the fighter #jets will start when training is completed and infrastructural requirements are met. The Netherlands will stand with #Ukraine for as long as it takes. #StandWithUkraine“.
Ukraine will receive Dutch F-16's. 🇺🇦🇳🇱 Delivery of the fighter #jets will start when training is completed and infrastructural requirements are met. The Netherlands will stand with #Ukraine for as long as it takes. #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/Yap5QjpsST
— Generaal Onno Eichelsheim (@CDS_Defensie) August 20, 2023
BZ to Netherlands and Denmark!
There are a lot of F16s around that could be donated. It will be interesting to see how many airframes Ukraine ends up with. Norway has 50ish stashed away not doing anything.
Norway sold around 32 to Romania , probably the most airworthy of those that remained . I think most of its F35 order has been delivered
They maybe ‘onsold’ to US for Ukraine or something similar in return for Romania getting some ‘nice things’
I was thinking about the war in the Ukraine last night and i realised that we are now moving towards year 2 there . An here we are (the west) handing over F16s to Kyiv. With the time taken to train people on the plane (Not just pilots) how far ahead is the West looking at this conflict continuing. I think it’s a given that Putin can’t allow Ukraine to win because he knows a cell at the Hague await him and things weren’t helped the other day when Stian Jenssen Director of the Private Office of the NATO Secretary General. suggested that Kyiv should be looking at settling a land deal with Moscow for NATO membership, but I feel the real message was for a end to the war which would amount to appeasement (funny enough Vidkun Quisling was Norwegian also) now going back to that 2 year mark, we are already seeing a rise in apathy across the West (really huge in the US) regards this war, with some idiots actually swallowing what Putin unzips in front of them. So how far fetched would it be, that Putin is looking to get the western public on his side in which to end the war in his favour? I mean don’t know about you guys but there has been a huge rise in the amount of pro-Russian propaganda across social media. Such as anti-Ukrainian refugees ones using credit card readers to scam people, that the Ukrainian has lost ½ million troops, Ukr troops surrendering on mass to Russians .there was even a video of the Beirut explosion been passed off as a bomb strike on the Ukraine and as I mentioned people are more than happy to swallow this crap.
The west, primarily the US and UK are losing interest because of their disproportionately large contributions to a war with static front lines. There are no advances, the line is static and has been for 12 months. The UKR direct attitude towards assistance rubs the Anglo countries the wrong way too, as we generally expect more gratitude and thankfulness. As Ben Wallace said, “I’m not Amazon.”
Why do you say the UK is losing interest? We are still supplying training, kit and munitions.
I can only comment from personal experience but neither myself nor anyone I know across the country has changed their view on this vile genocidal, imperialist land grab. For Ukraine’s sake and ultimately our own, Muscovy must lose.
I think most people on this site understand the reasons for Ukraine’s slow advance, the invader had way too long to fortify its defences entirely due to the hesitant and pusillanimous dribbling of western weapons to Ukraine.
Another recognised factor is that contrary to what any western military would expect to have, they are having to carry out the counteroffensive without adequate air cover, which brings us back to F16’s. Finally they are being supplied, but why so very late? The excuses as to “escalation” are no more or less valid now than before yet apparently this is no longer a consideration, and to be honest never has been.
I think this was Putin’s long-term plan all along, in a word, attrition.
Why would Putin be in jail if he loses, no ones going to invade Russia and take him captor.
More donations required.
https://www.indiadefencenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Countries-Operating-F-16.jpg
The variants these countries operate vary widely. It’s a going to be a logistical nightmare training with different software/hardware capabilities and managing the logistical footprint. It’s a mix of GE/Pratt small mouth/big mouth motors. F-16’s is also a known FOD magnet, operating off roadways will be challenging.
UKR is used to a mix of equipment in the Land domain. I am sure they will cope with an equipment mix of aircraft.
F16, Mirage 2000 (rumoured to be in Ukraine), may be Grippen in 2024…
And production lines for Sweedish CV90, maintenance facility for Leopard Tanks… Ukraine is ready to meet Russia if it wants a long conflict. Ammunition production is just starting to rise in Europe. Full capacity will not be reached in France before 2024.
With air power growing, they will have what it takes to be a pain for Russia in occupied territory. With Drone attacks growing in Russia, they will be problem all the time for Military and policymaker’s claim of stability. As we say, it comes back « droit dans la gueule »!
The US and their approach of dragging on a conflict instead of committing to winning from day one. Vietnam type scenario all over again, the only difference being this time its not US blood being shed. The big winners being the arms industry. I often wonder who calls the shots in that country…
If US was more involved, what would you say? Interference in Russian affaires?
It is not so easy.
I’d call it supporting an ally and supporting their Nato allies who are bordering the mess.
They have done this since day 1. Refused to supply one thing after another before eventually relenting.
Biden whimpering about avoiding escalating is a smoke screen. An escalation is an escalation, whether it happens on day 1, day 10 or day 600 is irrelevant.
I agree – US involvement in Afghanistan was their longest war. However they can do ‘fast’ – eg Gulf War 1 and the little wars – Panama etc.
They can do fast when it’s directly affecting them, like the gulf and the oil they needed.
When it’s not hitting them at home their priorities change. I’m really unsure what their motivations are sometimes.
The way Afghanistan ended its hard to say exactly what the hell that was ever actually all about!
They are a strange bunch, nothing is ever as black and white as it seems with them.
I spent half a year of my life in Afghan, others gave their lives or limbs. I am of course very disappointed that our Afghanistan operation is regarded by many as a failure. US Presidents Trump then Biden put a date on leaving Theatre for political consumption – Taliban were forewarned and forearmed. All ends in debacle. I was so proud of our forces involvement in the Kabul evacuation (Op Pitting) though.
This should have started 9 months ago at least. As soon as Ukraine retook Kharkiv and Kherson and it became clear Russia wasn’t going to take the whole country.
Dam thing is it’s all so pointless even if Russia did take Ukraine I believe it would of been a terrorist war Russia troops getting blown away on street coroners ,so no peace. IT’s time Putin’s so called friends pass him the rope.
Rope’s too good for Putin. He deserves nothing less than to be hanged, drawn and quartered.
Sean Bell (ex-RAF senior officer) who is defence expert for Sky News cautions that the F-16s may be older models (limited capability) and that a full package including EW, modern missiles etc is required to ensure their effectiveness is optimised.
That is true and was always going to be the way. The best that Ukraine will get is likely to be the Dutch and Danish aircraft, as they have been mostly kept up to date via their mid life update. But these are still F16 A and B, block 20 aircraft. Which are now about 45 years old. These aircraft have a newer version of the original APG-66 radar, which is a traditional mechanically scanned pulse-Doppler radar rather than the newer APG-80 AESA fitted to the C/D versions Block 50+ and 70s. This is important as it restricts the type of AMRRAM that can be used. So the Block D version is out, but all the Block C versions will be good to go. So they should be able to carry 6 AMRAAMs, or 4 AMRAAMs plus a pair of Sidewinders.
Offensively, they will be cleared to carry JDAMs, Paveway, APKWS equipped 70mm Hydra rockets, plus Mavericks. I doubt the US will provide JSOW/JASSM. But the biggest asset that will be a priority, will be HARM, which is fully integrated with the aircraft. So there will be better use of its capability. However, as the aircraft aren’t the latest Block standard, I’m pretty certain their ESM kit is a bit old. Which may restrict how effective they are in the SAM Wild Weasel role, but they will be a lot better than the Heath Robinson Mig-29s that Ukraine are using.
It’s likely that the Danish/Dutch will provide Ukraine with Sniper/Litening designator/reconnaissance pods, plus if they have the HARM targeting system, that is likely to be provided as well. Along with any defensive aids systems that both Countries use on their F16s.
Thanks Davey for your fully informed comment. Such a delay in agreeing the F-16s, which are unlikely to be fielded until next year. If UKR had them now, then their ground counter-offensive may have been making more headway.
I was wondering can they get the ecm updated before they go. I’ve no idea how easy or hard that is. Perhaps some bright cloud decoys can go.main thing these aircraft will probably be used for is cruise missile/drone defence.