The delivery of F-16 fighters to Ukraine will begin in 2024,” said the Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren.
Source: MSNBC.
When will the Netherlands deliver F-16s to Ukraine?
“We are transitioning to F-35 fighters, so we can provide F-16s as soon as we make this transition. The same applies to Norway and Denmark, so these things take time,” Ollongren noted.
She added that the delivery of the aircraft depends on the training timeline for Ukrainian pilots. According to Ollongren, she doesn’t know how long the training will take but estimates it at 6-8 months. The minister also added that the transfer of fighter jets is a signal being sent not only to Kyiv but also to Moscow.
“This is a signal that we are here, and we will assist the Ukrainians as much as needed. We will provide them with weapons and ammunition, and we will also work on strengthening their armed forces because after peace is established, Russia will not disappear,” concluded Ollongren.