4 F-35 fighter jets landed Thursday at an airbase in Denmark within the first installment of the US-made planes ordered by the NATO member to switch its ageing fleet of F-16s, a few of which have been promised to Ukraine.
Dignitaries and officers clapped because the planes, in Danish Air Drive colors, did a number of flyovers earlier than touchdown on the Skyrdstrup Air Base.
Ukraine has been asking for Western fighter jets to assist it resist the Russian invasion that started in February 2022. America just lately gave its approval for Denmark and the Netherlands to offer Ukraine with American-made jets.
Final month, the 2 nations stated they’d donate F-16 plane to Ukraine, with Denmark pledging 19 and the Netherlands an unspecified quantity.
Denmark stated it could must obtain new F-35s first, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated in August that she hoped the primary six F-16s might be handed over to Ukraine round New Yr. NATO member Norway additionally has indicated its intention to donate F-16s to Ukraine.
Denmark stated in June that the coaching of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 jets had began on the Skrydstrup Air Base, which is about 210 kilometres (130 miles) west of Copenhagen on the Jutland peninsula.
Denmark has ordered a complete of 27 F-35 fighter jets for $2.2 billion. They may change the nation’s fleet of 30 F-16s, that are greater than 40 years previous, in a transition that can final via the tip of 2025.
Following Thursday’s ceremonial arrival, the preliminary 4 planes will probably be formally handed over to Denmark by the US producer Lockheed Martin on October 1.
F-16s have been deployed in nations and areas together with the Balkans, Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, the place their operations have included patrolling airspace, dropping bombs and supporting troopers on the bottom. Iceland and Baltic nations even have used them to claim their sovereignty in air policing.
