Norway has joined Denmark and the Netherlands in supplying Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft to Ukraine, the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gar Støre announced Aug. 24.
Prime Minister Støre made the announcement during his meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
“We are planning the transfer of Norwegian F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. More details regarding the quantity, timing of delivery, and the transfer process will be revealed in the near future,” Støre said.
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RoNAF) possesses 57 F-16AM/BM Block 15 mid-life upgrade (MLU) airframes that were retired from active service in January 2022. Among these, 32 have been sold to Romania, while 12 were initially designated for Draken International. However, the latter arrangement didn’t materialize, indicating the likely source for Ukraine’s aircraft.
This announcement by Norway followed closely after Denmark and the Netherlands jointly confirmed on Aug. 20th that they would provide F-16s from their own retiring fleets.
With around 40 F-16AM/BM Block 15 MLU aircraft, the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) maintains a substantial fleet, some of which are held in storage.
Similarly, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) boasts 24 F-16AMs upgraded to the same MLU standard, aligning them with the capabilities of the US Air Force’s F-16C/D Block 50/52 variants. This modernization includes features like the AIM-9 and AIM-120 air-to-air missiles, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), and other air-to-surface armaments.
Collectively, the three nations—Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway—have the potential to supply Ukraine with up to 76 F-16 fighters. However, no specific timeline for the transfer of these aircraft to Ukraine has been outlined in either the Norwegian or the combined Danish and Dutch statements.
US to Train Ukrainian F-16 pilots
In a bid to aid Ukraine against Russia, the US Department of Defense is set to initiate training for Ukrainian personnel to operate and maintain F-16 fighter jets.
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder revealed this development on Aug. 24.
The U.S.-led training is “in support of the international effort to develop and strengthen Ukraine’s long-term defenses,” Ryder said.
Scheduled to commence in October, the training will be conducted at the Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, under the supervision of the Air National Guard’s 162nd Wing.
“The training provided by the United States will complement the F-16 pilot and maintenance training that’s already underway in Europe and further deepens our support of the F-16 training coalition led by Denmark and the Netherlands,” Ryder said.
He ensured close coordination with these allies and others to ensure the effectiveness of US training within the broader coalition. Ryder noted that Ukraine will determine the number of pilots requiring training.