Ukraine may obtain promised F-16s only in fall, experts say
Photo: Experts estimate when Ukraine will be able to receive an F-16 (Getty Images)
Ukraine's partners said that the first F-16s could appear in Ukrainian airspace this summer. Experts are cautious about the timing of the transfer, believing it could happen in the fall, according to the RBC-Ukraine article “F-16s on the way: When Ukraine will receive fighter jets and see their effect at the frontline.”
The delivery of the aircraft directly depends on the training of pilots and technicians. A group of technicians has returned to Ukraine from Denmark and is ready to receive the aircraft. Another 50 engineers are expected to join the training soon.
Earlier, the partners said that F-16s could appear in the Ukrainian skies in the summer. On the sidelines of the NATO summit, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the process of transferring F-16s from Denmark and the Netherlands had begun. In a joint statement, the allies confirmed that the fighters will appear in Ukrainian airspace this summer.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently made an intriguing statement on the delivery of F-16s. He noted that the Polish government had approved the decision to speed up the process. Most likely, it is about logistics and transportation from NATO countries.
Valerii Romanenko, a leading researcher at the National Aviation University, believes that the issue of supplying aircraft is multifaceted, and the situation depends not only on the partners.
“Much depends on us - when we will be ready to accept the planes, service them, and ensure their safety,” the expert explained.
According to Kostiantyn Kryvolap, a former test engineer at Antonov Design Bureau, the timing of the F-16 delivery should be based on the pilot training data. Reports say that eight Ukrainians will complete their training in Denmark in August, and 12 more will graduate in September at the US base in Arizona.
As I understand it, the transfer of aircraft is one process, and the beginning of their use is quite another. In my opinion, if the pilots complete their training in August and September, it is unrealistic to expect the F-16s to be available before October. Because the planes will be ready when everything works together: pilots, technicians, infrastructure, and coordination with other troops. I don't think we will see them in action until October-November,” he said.
F-16 for Ukraine
Ukraine will receive F-16 fighter jets from its partners as part of the aviation coalition. Last year, Denmark and the Netherlands promised to provide Ukraine with dozens of aircraft. But the deliveries will not take place immediately.
Earlier, Ukraine said that some of the transferred F-16s would be deployed on the territory of partner countries. It is necessary for security reasons.
Read more about how the delivery of the fighter jets could affect the situation at the frontline in RBC-Ukraine's article.
