The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, showed footage of our pilots training on F-16 fighter jets in Denmark. The video is dated February 2024.
Ukrainian pilots continue to train on the F-16
All Ukrainians are waiting for the day when the first Ukrainian F-16s will appear in our skies when they will strengthen the protection of our cities and communities and the capabilities of our Defence Forces of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine
Zelenskyy added that he is "grateful to the F-16 coalition that is bringing that day closer" while our pilots and personnel continue training.
F-16 aircraft for Ukraine
The Netherlands and Denmark led an aviation coalition to train Ukrainian pilots on American F-16 fighter jets. These countries have special flight simulators.
In August 2023, Denmark began training the first group of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters. It was then about eight pilots. Last year in November, Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said that in Denmark, Ukrainian pilots are already training in the air with instructors on F-16 fighter jets.
On February 18, Foreign Policy reported that Ukraine could receive the first F-16 fighters in the summer of 2024. It is probably about June.
At the same time, while commenting on media publications, Ignat recently noted that it is not yet known when Kyiv will receive F-16 aircraft. But "the process is underway". Ukraine is switching to fighter jets as an emergency.
Dutch PM Mark Rutte said that transferring F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is on schedule. Ukraine is to receive more than 20 combat aircraft.
