The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, published a video on social networks with footage of the Ukrainian military in Denmark mastering F-16 fighter jets. "All Ukrainians are waiting for the day when the first Ukrainian F-16s will appear in our skies, when they will strengthen the protection of our cities and communities and the capabilities of our Defense Forces of Ukraine. While our pilots and personnel continue their training, I am grateful to the coalition of F-16, which brings this day closer," Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted in the video's comments.
Pilots and technicians of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine undergo an intensive training course on F-16 aircraft at the Skrydstrup base. "Our combat experience is a thing that is really hard overestimate, but still, it is a really condenced program. I think the biggest bust here is not that combat experience, but the motivation to go back and keep fighting," notes the Ukrainian pilot with the call sign Moonfish.
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He emphasizes that the F-16 from the pilot's point of view "is really a super fun jet to fly". "I’m not saying that MiG, that I flew before is super boring, but the F-16 is definitely more agile. It feels like the jet wants you to fly it more aggressively," the pilot notes.
"Initially when we first got acquainted with this system, it seemed incomprehensible to us, and unrealistic to integrate in Ukraine. But now I realized that it simplifies the work a lot, saves time and will help us move forward. If we want to develop as country, as a structure in the Air Force, we need to draw this experience from other countries that have already passed this stage a long time ago," notes the Ukrainian technician Ihor.
We will remind you that on Thursday, February 22, the Ministry of Defense of Denmark noted that Denmark can deliver the first F-16 already this summer. "It is difficult to set a fixed timetable for the donation of F-16 fighter jets because several conditions must be met for Ukraine to use the donated aircraft,"noted the head of the country's defense department, Troels Lund Poulsen, but, if everything proceeds as planned, the aircraft will be delivered according to the specified schedule.
According to the message of the Danish Ministry of Defense, the final transfer of the F-16 depends, among other things, on the full training of Ukrainian pilots and technicians, other personnel, as well as logistics and infrastructure. "The international coalition of air forces supporting Ukraine is working hard to ensure this.," the Danish Ministry of Defense notes.
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