Denmark transfers F-16s to Ukraine with Russia usage condition
21 August, 2023 Volodymyr Zelensky and Mette Frederiksen against the background of the Danish F-16 fighter. August 2023. Denmark.
Photo credits: Office of the President of Ukraine Denmark transfers its F-16s to Ukraine on the condition that the fighters will not be used on the territory of Russia. Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen reported on this.
Western fighter jets are provided only for combat operations against the invaders on the territory of Ukraine. "We provide weapons on the condition that they will be used to drive the enemy out of Ukraine. And no more," said the Danish Defense Minister.
The minister emphasized that "these are the conditions; whether it is tanks, fighter jets, or something else."
Minister of Defense of Denmark Jacob Ellemann-Jensen. Photo credits: Claus Bech/Ritzau Scanpix
It regards only the fighter jets that Denmark will provide. Presumably, the Netherlands will set the same conditions.
Denmark hopes to send the first six F-16s out of the promised 19 to Ukraine closer to the New Year. "Regarding specific questions: when do we plan to deliver these aircraft? We are now continuing the screening process, which will start soon, so I hope that closer to the New Year, the first group of aircraft will leave Denmark and head to Ukraine.
About six of them," said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Frederiksen expressed hope that next year, eight more planes would fly from Denmark to Ukraine, and then five more. "We will do it as soon as possible.
We need all the technical details, all the skills to prepare as best we can, and then we will be ready," the Danish Prime Minister said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky gets acquainted with the F-16 fighter jet of the Danish Air Force, August 20, 2023. Photo credits: Office of the President
The Prime Minister also informed that more than 70 people from Ukraine are training and preparing to study in Denmark.
As previously reported, the Netherlands and Denmark have F-16AM (Block 20 MLU) fighter jets.
This modernization is equivalent to Block 50/52.
Modernization work was carried out on F-16A/B fighter aircraft to improve their specifications.