The US approves the transfer of 22 Norwegian F-16s to Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
The United States has given the green light for the transfer of 22 Norwegian F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, along with engines, auxiliary materials, spare parts, and other necessary equipment.
The US authorities have approved the shipment of 22 Norwegian F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, as well as engines, auxiliary materials, simulators, spare parts and other necessary equipment. This was reported by UNN with reference to Nettavisen.
Details
The US government has reportedly recently approved the transfer of 65 F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway to Ukraine. Although the US will not be handing over the planes itself, the US government must approve the transfer. This is part of a deal that the US has struck with the countries that bought the F-16s and other weapons systems.
Norway has received permission to transfer 22 F-16 aircraft, as well as engines, auxiliary materials, simulators, spare parts and other necessary equipment.
However, it is noted that this does not include 22 fully operational F-16s. Several of the 22 planes are not necessarily airworthy, but could still be useful to Ukraine, for example, as spare parts.
In December 2021, it was announced that Norway had signed an agreement to sell 12 Norwegian F-16s to the American company Draken International. These aircraft are airworthy and are still in Norway.
According to the newspaper, apparently, the sale agreement with Draken International has not been finalized, and the planes that were supposed to be used for training in the United States will instead be used to protect Ukraine's airspace.
Therefore, Nettavisen assumes that 12 of the 22 aircraft approved for delivery to Ukraine are fully operational.
Addendum
In Denmark and the United States, Ukrainian pilots are in the final stages of training to fly F-16 fighter jets.
Ukraine is preparing and adapting airfields to receive F-16s.
The New York Times reported that by this summer, 12 Ukrainian pilots will be ready to fly F-16s after 10 months of training in Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, by the time the pilots return, only six F-16s out of an estimated 45 fighter jets will have been delivered to Ukraine.
