Danish F-16 fighter jets will be phased out of service starting in 2025, two years ahead of schedule, to accommodate Kiev’s combat aircraft needs.
According to the Danish newspaper DR, Acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen informed Parliament that the Danish Air Force’s F-16 fighters will be retired two years earlier than previously planned, which would make them available for transfer to Ukraine.
“Now that we have taken the step to embark on a continuing training and education program for Ukrainian pilots, we will also have to consider whether and how many Danish F-16 fighter jets should be specifically donated to Ukraine,” Poulsen stated.
F-35 arrives
A year ago, as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Danish Ministry of Defense had taken the decision to extend the operational life of its F-16s until 2027, years in which it would coexist with the new F-35s acquired to replace them.
However, Minister Troels Lund Poulsen assures that the entry into service of the F-35s can be accelerated to make the F-16s available to Ukraine.
“We can introduce the F-35s and make them operational ahead of schedule. And, therefore, we are now in a situation where the F-16s can be retired earlier,” the minister said.
F-16 for Ukraine, not before 2024
Along with the Netherlands, Norway and Poland, Denmark is part of the coalition of European NATO countries that made the decision to start training Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 aircraft, with the intention of supplying them to Kiev at a later date, so that they can stand up to the Russian Air Force (VVS).
See also: Australian F/A-18 Hornet fighters could be transferred to Ukraine
The Minister of Defense informed that he expects the first flying lessons for future Ukrainian F-16 pilots to start in August, at Skrydstrup air base. He also clarified that Ukrainian pilots will need 6-8 months of training to be able to use the F-16 weapon system, so it is not possible to donate them immediately.
“This does not mean that a decision cannot be made beforehand. But (the F-16 fighters) will be in Denmark until 2024,” commented acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
But it is not only pilots that need to be trained. Technical personnel must also be trained to maintain the aircraft and its systems. And some air bases must be enabled to accommodate the F-16s. The Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) is used to operating with ex-Soviet technology, and the introduction of the F-16 will represent a paradigm shift for them, which will necessarily take time to adapt.
