Copenhagen:
The Netherlands and Denmark have led a push to coach Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s and ship the fighter Jets to Ukraine to assist counter Russia’s air superiority.
Listed here are some info concerning the alliance of Western nations that may provide plane and coaching:
HOW MANY F16S WILL UKRAINE GET?
Denmark will ship 19 jets in whole with the preliminary six due across the finish of the 12 months, adopted by eight in 2024 and 5 in 2025, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen Mentioned on Aug 20.
The Netherlands has 42 F-16s obtainable however has but to determine whether or not all of them will probably be donated.
WHEN WILL TRAINING START?
Denmark this month started coaching eight Ukrainian pilots in flying the jets, the Danish armed forces mentioned.
The eight pilots arrived on the Danish navy air base in Skrydstrup together with 65 personnel who will probably be skilled in sustaining and servicing the jets.
Greece can even participate within the coaching, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned.
Officers from a coalition of 11 nations have mentioned F-16 coaching can even happen in Romania.
WHAT WILL F-16S DO FOR UKRAINE’S WAR EFFORT?
Zelenskiy known as the donation a “breakthrough settlement” and mentioned the planes would strengthen Ukraine’s air defences and assist its counter-offensive towards Russian forces.
U.S. officers have privately mentioned F-16s would have been of little assist to Ukraine in its present push and won’t be a recreation changer after they ultimately arrive given Russian air protection programs and contested skies over Ukraine.
Poland and Slovakia have equipped 27 MiG-29s to complement Ukraine’s fleet of fight plane.
HOW SOON COULD UKRAINE START USING THE F-16?
A Ukranian air drive spokesman has mentioned he didn’t count on Ukraine to have the ability to function F-16 jets this coming winter.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has mentioned six months of coaching was thought of the minimal for pilots, but it surely was not but identified how lengthy it could take to coach engineers and mechanics.
The coaching programme ought to depart Ukrainian pilots and repair personnel ready to make use of F-16s in fight by early subsequent 12 months, NATO leaders mentioned in July.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
Designed within the Nineteen Seventies and produced within the Eighties by Common Dynamics, now part of Lockheed Martin, the F-16 jets that Ukraine will obtain are round 40-years-old.
Whereas the weapons programs and devices have been up to date, the air frames are topic to heavy upkeep wants, mentioned Esben Salling Larsen, a navy analyst on the Royal Defence Faculty.
“The Ukrainians must use loads of their time on upkeep of the jets,” Salling Larsen mentioned.
One other problem is the time strain on the coaching of the pilots, engineers and mechanics.
The F-16s are U.S.-made whereas Ukraine’s present jets are Russian, creating the problem of a language barrier for mechanics and engineers.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
F-16s have been on Ukraine’s want checklist for a very long time due to their harmful energy and world availability. The plane is provided with a 20mm cannon and may carry bombs, rockets and missiles.
Many NATO allies have F-16s, making it simpler to seek out spare components in contrast with the Russian planes at the moment utilized by Ukraine.
Denmark and different nations have additionally began to make use of different jets such because the F-35s on order by Denmark, boosting the availability of spare components from retired planes.
WHAT IS RUSSIA SAYING?
Russia warned that supplying jets to Ukraine would escalate the warfare.
“The truth that Denmark has now determined to donate 19 F-16 plane to Ukraine results in an escalation of the battle,” Russian ambassador Vladimir Barbin mentioned.
WHO ELSE MIGHT DONATE JETS?
Norway is contemplating whether or not to donate F-16s however has not mentioned what number of.
Portugal, Romania and Belgium all have F-16s like these donated by Denmark and the Netherlands making them appropriate for a donation as Ukrainians are being skilled for these jets.
Ukraine final week started discussing with Sweden the opportunity of receiving Swedish-made Gripen jets.
In June, Sweden mentioned it could give Ukrainian pilots the chance to check its Saab-made Gripen fighter, but it surely has additionally mentioned it wants all its planes to defend Swedish territory.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
