F-35 delivery to Denmark delayed - Impact on F-16 transfer to Ukraine
Photo: Denmark to receive F-35 later than expected (Getty Images)
Denmark is expected to receive American F-35 fighter jets later than initially anticipated, but this delay will not impact the planned transfer of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, reports Bloomberg.
Denmark has initiated the process of transferring F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, intending to replace them with new F-35s. However, Lockheed Martin Corp, the manufacturing company, faces "technology hurdles," leading to potential delays in delivering the F-35s.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen mentioned that the original plan was for delivery in the first half of 2024, but due to challenges, it could be postponed by at least six months.
Poulsen emphasized that there is no clear understanding when Denmark will receive the planes. The USA and colleagues are looking for a solution.
Despite this setback, Poulsen assured that the delay with the F-35 would not impact the timeline for transferring Danish F-16s to Ukraine. Denmark had ordered 27 F-35 fighters from Lockheed Martin Corp, with only four received so far.
F-16s for Ukraine
As previously agreed, allies including the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway committed to providing Ukraine with a minimum of 61 F-16 fighter jets.
Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, announced that the initial aircraft will be delivered in the spring of 2024.
It is also known that Ukrainian pilots are trained on the F-16 in several countries. According to Yurii Ihnat, in Denmark the pilots have already boarded the F-16 together with the instructors.
