Everything is according to plan: Kuleba tells when F-16s will appear in Ukrainian skies
28 March 2024 15:28
During an online briefing with foreign media while in Warsaw, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the process of transferring F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is currently going according to plan and that the combat aircraft should arrive in Ukraine in the middle of this summer. This was reported by Komersant ukrainskyi 
citing Interfax-Ukraine.
Kuleby said that initially there were plans for F-16s to appear in the Ukrainian air in mid-summer.
“Everything is currently going according to plan. But, of course, this is a very complex and complicated issue, so you never know how things can change. But this is the current schedule,”
– the minister said.
Kuleba said that, according to his information, the training of Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 is “going well”.
“Of course, even more training will be required, not only for pilots, but also for engineers and technicians, because the transition from Soviet-type aircraft to Western-type aircraft… requires serious changes in everything, in education, logistics, air combat philosophy and many other elements,” he said,
– the minister said.
What is known about the F-16 for Ukraine
The United States has led the Ukrainian Air Force Capability Development Coalition in the management of F16 multi-role fighters. The Netherlands and Denmark became co-chairs.
In August last year, Denmark and the Netherlands pledged to provide Ukraine with 61 F-16 fighters. In order for the delivery to begin, Ukrainian pilots and maintenance personnel must be trained and Ukraine must prepare the infrastructure.
on 20 August, after talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would receive a total of 42 US F-16 fighter jets.
The day before, Zelenskyy announced that the Netherlands had begun preparations to hand over the first 18 F-16 multi-role fighters to Ukraine.
Although the first aircraft may arrive as early as this year, not all partners are acting so quickly. For example, Belgium plans to deliver the aircraft in 2025.
