F-35 Lightning II fighters will help Ukraine get F-16 Fighting Falcon from Denmark earlier

The acceleration of deliveries of F-35 Lightning II to the Danish Air Force brings closer the transfer of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft to Ukraine. Scandinavian

the country is preparing to retire fourth-generation fighters two years earlier than planned.

What is known

This was announced by the Acting Ministerdefense Troels Lund Poulsen (Troels Lund Poulsen). He also noted that the pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force must take a course in flying the F-16. The training program will last for 6-8 months.

Denmark plans to retire planesF-16 in 2027 but will do so in 2025. This was made possible by accelerated deliveries of the F-35 Lightning II. All fifth-generation fighters will enter service with the Danish Air Force from autumn 2023 to the end of 2025.

Now the Scandinavian country has 43 F-16 aircraft, of which about three dozen are still in use. They will be replaced by 27 F-35 fighters, which were ordered in 2016.