Belgium to send personnel, two F-16s to Denmark to train Ukrainian pilots

Belgian Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder has said that Belgium will send technical personnel and two US F-16 fighter jets to Denmark in 2024 to train Ukrainian pilots and technicians.

“The Defence Ministry will send two F-16 two-seat fighter jets to Denmark for advanced training in 2024. About 50 employees [mostly technical personnel] will also be sent for the deployment of F-16 fighter jets,” the minister said, TASS reports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about a “breakthrough agreement” with the Netherlands on the supply of 42 F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv on August 20. Denmark also announced its readiness to transfer 19 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, the first six aircraft will be supplied by the end of this year. Denmark and the Netherlands have already announced the training of Ukrainian pilots. Nine more countries will help them.

Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported in mid-August that two Ukrainian pilots were tested by US instructors on F-16 aircraft.

Oleshchuk noted that the general training period takes 32 months, but as for these two pilots, a decision was made that they could master the F-16 aircraft within four months.