The issue of rearmament of the Ukrainian Air Force with the F-16 fighters is not new.

Back in 2020, the Ukrainian Air Force Command shared its vision regarding the rational ways of development of this military branch.

Among the key defined areas is the replacement of obsolete Soviet weapons, including aviation.

For replacing the old crafts, JAS-39E/F Gripen, F-16 Block 70/72, F-15EX or other multipurpose aircraft were considered.

Next year, Lockheed Martin attended the Ukraine for Arms and Security 2021 International Trade Fair, where they presented the F-16 fighter.

In January 2021, the Ukrainian Air Force was awaiting the state’s decision on purchasing new fighters.

Currently, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine operates four types of combat aircraft at once, namely:

• Su-27 fighters;
• MiG-29 fighters;
• Su-25 attack aircraft;
• Su-24М tactical bombers and Su-24MR tactical reconnaissance aircraft.

Such a wide range of combat aircraft makes them difficult and more expensive to maintain due to the uniqueness of spare parts for each type.

Close the sky

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine forced the state to accelerate with plans to receive new fighters.

“Today I can say: I need it. The need to protect our sky. The need for your decision, for your help,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed U.S. congressmen in March 2022.

Ukraine began to submit requests to different countries regarding the possibility of transferring fighters.

As part of international technical assistance, Poland and Slovakia handed over Soviet-era MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine.

As for the F-16s, the Netherlands was the first to respond in January 2023, saying they were ready to consider transferring these fighters to Ukraine.

Also this year, U.S. congressmen from both parties began calling on President Joe Biden to give Ukraine the F-16 fighter jets.

The Ukrainian side reassured their hopes to receive 40-50 F-16 fighters from the allies.

Kyiv tells Western leaders that the need for modern aircraft has become even more acute after Russian planes began to use guided bombs extensively in March 2023, which are able to reach targets at longer distances.

Fighter Coalition

The breakthrough on this issue happened on May 16. The United Kingdom and the Netherlands agreed to contribute to the creation of an international coalition to strengthen the air defense of Ukraine, including the provision of the F-16s.

A few days later, the United States confirmed that it supported joint efforts with other countries to train Ukrainian pilots for the F-16 fighters.

The F-16 fighters, which Ukraine is to receive from the allies, will be provided on the condition that they will not be used for strikes on the territory of Russia.

The “Fighter jet Coalition” was almost immediately joined by different countries, promising to make various commitments: from the transfer of aircraft to the training of technical personnel.

At the beginning of June, ten countries entered the coalition, as follows:

• Great Britain – training of pilots;
• Netherlands – possible transfer of F-16 and training of pilots;
• Poland – training of pilots and technical personnel;
• Denmark – possible transfer of F-16 and training of pilots;
• Sweden – training on Jas 39 Gripen fighters;
• Belgium – training of pilots;
• Portugal – training of pilots;
• France – training of pilots;
• Norway – training of technical personnel;
• USA – approval of transfer F-16 for other countries and training of pilots.

Also, Canada and Luxembourg can join the training of the Ukrainian military.

The Swedish Armed Forces were tasked with training Ukrainian pilots in Jas 39 Gripen fighters and related aviation personnel.

The background is that the Armed Forces of Ukraine themselves expressed a request for the possibility of an operational assessment of JAS 39 and Sweden agreed on this request.

Training of pilots

Sending Ukrainian pilots abroad for transition training from Soviet-type aircraft to American F-16 will proceed in several stages.

Priority is given to young airmen and those who are proficient in English.

In the first wave of training, Ukraine will send 24 pilots who should begin studying new fighters in the summer.

The exercise is expected to be held entirely in Europe, however American personnel will also be involved.

The plan developed together with the Netherlands involves training Ukrainians on the F-16s at the Danish Skrydstrup Air Base, South Jutland, as there the Danish fighters of this type are stationed.

Also, the “Fighter jet Coalition” will create a training center for Ukrainian F-16 pilots in one of the eastern NATO member states.

Future F-16s of Ukraine

In early June, Volodymyr Zelensky said that a certain number of countries had confirmed that they would provide Ukraine with their F-16 fighters. The names of the countries are kept secret.

It is very likely that the Netherlands will become the first country to transfer F-16 fighters to Ukraine.

Because earlier the Netherlands made a decision to purchase the F-35 fighters to replace their F-16 fleet.

The Netherlands received 213 F-16 during 1979-1992 (177 F-16А and 36 F-16V). The aircraft were ordered in two batches – 102 and 111 jets, moreover 52 aircraft from the latter batch belonging to the Block 15 OCU. Also, 108 fighters underwent modernization to the F-16AM/BM level.

In general, the country’s air forces had 61 F-16AM/BM fighters for 2021, which were to be sold off.

In June, it became known that the private company Draken International had rejected 6 of the 12 the Netherlands F-16 fighters. The deal included the sale of 12 Dutch F-16 to an American company, as well as an option for another 28 fighters, which was not implemented.

Thus, the Netherlands will potentially have at least 34 F-16s for Ukraine, which were supposed to be sold to the private company.

Norway was potentially a country that could sell its F-16s before a full-scale invasion, but its fighters went to the private company Draken International and the Romanian Air Force.

Poland has 48 F-16 fighters in service (of which 36 are in the F-16C Block 52+ variant, as well as 12 F-16D Block 52+), but the country’s Ministry of Defense has so far stated that it is not able to transfer them to Ukraine.

Portuguese authorities are not considering the possibility of transferring American F-16 fighters to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Denmark has not yet decided whether to transfer its fighters to the F-16 Defense Forces of Ukraine.

Denmark received a total of 77 F-16s: 58 Belgian-made jets (46 F-16А and 12 F-16В) in 1980-1983, 12 aircraft (eight single-seat and four two seat) delivered in 1987-1991, and seven former American fighters (six F-16А and one F-16В) delivered in 1994 and 1997.

At the beginning of 2023, there were 44 F-16AM/BM aircraft in service (34 single-seat and 10 two seat), but only 30 of them are currently operational. They are supposed to be replaced with the F-35A fighters. So Denmark is a potential country that can provide Ukraine with the F-16s.

Also, it should not be ruled out that over time the United States will agree to the potential sale of these fighters to Ukraine.