Netherlands: F-16s to take to the skies over Ukraine as early as this summer

The commander of the Dutch Air Force, General Arno Stollman, expects F-16 fighter jets to take to the skies over Ukraine this summer, writes The Guardian.

"They will sort themselves out this summer", he said.

The British publication recalls that Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have promised to provide Ukraine with about 80 American-made F-16 fighter jets - equipment that Ukrainian forces have been demanding for more than a year. However, the program to get the planes into the air was interrupted due to delays in supplies and training.

According to the general, the process of training the pilots and ground staff to operate the aircraft was difficult.

"It's not just pilots who need training, technicians and maintenance staff also need extensive training. We provide comprehensive maintenance training so that they can maintain the aircraft effectively. So everything has to match," he said.

Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Olongren also said the first deliveries of the planes to Ukraine should take place this summer and hit back at the delay amid reports that Kiev is frustrated with the pace of pilot training:

"The F-16s are really much more complex than the systems that the Ukrainian Air Force has used so far... You can't just skip a few steps, you have to go through every step of the process, but we also want to deliver them as quickly as possible quickly."

Ukraine is said to have waited months to begin using the fighter jets and hopes their introduction will change the dynamics of the war by forcing Russia to adopt more conservative tactics in its attacks in areas closer to the border.< br />
"The Russians will be forced to change their tactics. We will be able to hit their planes and missiles more effectively, and it will be very difficult for them to continue using guided bombs of the FAB type, which should be launched at a distance of 50 to 70 km", is the opinion of the aviation expert and former Ukrainian military pilot Anatoly Khrapchinsky.