The first F-16s will defend Kharkiv in the summer

Fighter F-16, illustrative photo

After delays with pilot training, the Netherlands announced that Ukraine would receive the first planes already this summer. They are expected, in particular, to defend Kharkiv.

The Guardian writes about it.

The commander of the Air Force of the Netherlands, General Arnud Stollmann, expects that «at some point this summer» the F-16 fighters will finally take to the skies over Ukraine.

«It's all coming together this summer,» he said, speaking in front of two F-16s at the base, where a training program for Ukrainian maintenance instructors for the planes recently began.

The Guardian, citing numerous Ukrainian sources, writes that F-16s will protect Kharkiv from guided aerial bombs that the Russian Federation launches from aircraft in Russian airspace.

Aviation expert Anatolii Khrapchynskyi believes that the Russians will be forced to change their tactics, because with the F-16, Ukraine will be able to more effectively hit enemy aircraft and missiles.

Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have pledged to provide Ukraine with about 80 American-made F-16 fighters. But the process has been slowed by delays in the delivery of aircraft and pilot training.

«I fully understand the Ukrainian position, they want to do it as soon as possible... We are doing the project as fast as we can, we are really expanding our capabilities,» said Dutch Defense Minister Kaisa Ollongren.

Compared to Soviet aircraft, the F-16 can carry more weapons and is equipped with a more powerful radar system. It takes about 10 people to operate one F-16, including two pilots and technical staff.

We will remind, F-16 fighter jets from Denmark will arrive in Ukraine in the near future, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.