The Netherlands will probably supply F-16s to Ukraine as soon as the training of Ukrainian pilots is completed. Two anonymous sources report it to Bloomberg. On Thursday evening, Defense Minister Ollongren announced that the Netherlands and Denmark will lead the F-16 training sessions, which begin next summer.
According to Bloomberg, the Dutch government has held talks with the US government in recent weeks. The talks are expected to put pressure on President Biden’s administration, those concerned tell the news agency. The Americans have to give permission for the delivery of the F-16s, because the fighters are American-made.
The Netherlands currently owns 42 F-16s. The Dutch military still has 24 of these aircraft in use, but in theory they could not go to Ukraine before the middle of next year. The remaining 18 aircraft were supposed to be sold to the US defense company Draken International, but the Department of Defense has postponed the sale for no apparent reason, writes Bloomberg.
Take months
The Netherlands and Denmark will start training dozens of pilots next summer. This training takes place in Denmark. Belgium and the United Kingdom are also involved, the defense ministry said on Wednesday.
According to defense specialist Patrick Bolder of the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague, it could take months before the training of Ukrainian pilots is completed. “In the Netherlands, under peaceful conditions, it takes years for a pilot to be ready to act as the head of a large formation. Ukrainians don’t have that time.”
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
