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Update on transfer-date and quantity of F16s from Denmark and the Netherlands to Ukraine. [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-08-22  

Date of transfer:

Denmark has indicated it hopes to deliver the first 6 of 19 planes around January 2024. Then 8 during 2024 and 5 in 2025.

The Netherlands has at present 42 F16s left, of which 24 are being replaced by F35s. Depending on the speed at which that will take place the F16s can be released. The projected date the F35s will be fully operational is from mid 2024 and possibly no earlier than end 2024. At present those 24 F16s are guarding the airspace above the Netherlands/Belgium/Luxembourg. From the other 18 planes , 6 will be/are sold to an American company. The remaining 12 have 2 seats, and are planned to be used to train Ukrainian pilots. The training will start in Denmark asap.

Conditions of release:

Denmark and the Netherlands will transfer the planes under the condition of Ukraine restricting the use to Ukrainian territory. (a condition requested by US , similar to other US weapon systems supplied)

Defense specialists among which US Chief of staff Mark Milley state that F16s will be helpful to Ukraine while Ukraine should not have the expectation the F16 will be a game-changer.

What does the F16 bring to the battlefield

Increased and flexible air defense capacity (Among which integrated use with Patriot radar systems, and the F16s delivered have an effective radar horizon 5 times further than the present MIG 29 can project, up to 200km). Which can protect Ukrainian armor/artillery on the offense from Russian Ka 52 Attack helicopters and Ukrainian MIG 29’s from Russian MIG 31’s.

Flawless use of a variety of NATO missile systems (Instead of being launched by specially adjusted MIG 29 or SOe-27, which because of their limited radar horizon are effectively blind for more modern MIG’s and restrict the effectiveness of various missiles ).

What it does not bring: Stealth capacity, and as such it is highly vulnerable for Russian S400 air defense.

Sources:Reuters & The NRC

www.reuters.com/…

www.nrc.nl/...

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[1] Url: https://dailykos.com/stories/2023/8/22/2188787/-Update-on-transfer-date-and-quantity-of-F16-s-from-Denmark-and-the-Netherlands-to-Ukraine

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