Ukrainian pilots may begin coaching on F-16 fighter jets in July, Denmark’s performing Protection Minister Troels Lund Poulsen indicated Tuesday.
“My expectation is that by the top of June, we’ll have it formally arrange, so we are able to hopefully begin after that,” Poulsen advised reporters earlier than a ministers’ assembly in Brussels.
“After which, it’s most likely an effort that may take as much as six months earlier than we have now the services in place in order that we are able to fly F-16 fighter jets from Ukraine,” the minister added.
Kyiv has been urgent its Western allies handy over fashionable fighter jets for months, stressing it wants them to spice up its growing old airforce and repel Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Whereas a number of nations — such because the U.S., the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark — have agreed to show Ukrainian pilots how one can fly the F-16s, none have dedicated to delivering the planes.
The Danish protection minister on Tuesday fastidiously steered clear from making any guarantees in that path.
“It’s going to solely be within the fall that we’ll talk about a attainable donation of F-16 fighter jets,” Poulsen mentioned.
