Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild

US allows Denmark, Netherlands to send F-16s to Ukraine post-training

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Aug 2023 14:08
3 Min Read

It remains unclear how long it will be before the first set of Ukrainian pilots are completely ready to fly the jets.

  • x
  • US Air Force F-16 fighter jet is on display during the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, Monday, June 19, 2023 (AP)
    US Air Force F-16 fighter jet is on display during the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, Monday, June 19, 2023 (AP)

The US State Department announced on Friday that it will allow the Netherlands and Denmark to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets but only once the country's pilots are trained to operate them, as both European nations are leading the training programs. 

"This way, Ukraine can take full advantage of its new capabilities as soon as the first set of pilots complete their training," a State Department spokesperson said.  

It remains unclear how long it will be before the first set of Ukrainian pilots are completely ready to fly the jets, with officials hoping for pilots to be ready by 2024 while training by an 11-nation coalition is due to start this month. 

Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov praised the "great news from our friends in the United States" alongside Netherlands Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren who posted on social media that "It allows us to follow through on the training of Ukrainian pilots". She did acknowledge however that "everything takes time", as reported by the ANP new agency. 

Read next: West rethinking plan to root for Ukrainian counteroffensive

Related News

Netherlands-flagged cargo ship reportedly attacked near Yemen’s Aden

Netherlands depends on China for critical minerals in tech industry

The US version of the F-16 contains better combat capabilities than those of Ukraine but as a result, requires more training for pilots. "We need 60 to 80 F-16 planes in order to close the skies well, especially in the area near the front," said Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky, back in July.

It is worth noting that the Ukrainian President has been desperate for fighter jets, repeatedly pushing for advanced Western jets, but Kiev's international supporters had balked at doing so until recently.

"We have freedom, give us wings to protect it," Zelensky told UK Members of Parliament as he toured European countries in the hope of securing fighter jets back in February.

Even further before then, back in May, Ukraine's Yuri Sak, an advisor to the Ukrainian defense minister, expressed hopes to receive the first batch of F-16s in September or October of this year. That, however, is highly unlikely to happen, given that training is not over yet and language is seeming to be an impediment. In addition, the counteroffensive does not seem to be working much in Ukraine's favor. 

Politico reported earlier that as Ukrainian officials blame the West's over-positive hopes for the counteroffensive against Russia, Kiev is also to blame for its failing retaliation.

Read more: English language, a stick in wheel of Ukraine F-16 training: Politico

  • The Netherlands
  • F-16
  • US
  • Denmark
  • Ukraine

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Egyptian workers search for the bodies of hostages in a tunnel discovered during searches in Hamad City, Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' obstructing Gaza body recovery, creating false claims: Hamas

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawwaf Salam talks to US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, October 28, 2025 (NNA)
Politics

Salam conveys to Ortagus goals behind any possible negotiations

Writers boycott NYT, demand justice as Gaza media ban faces court
Politics

300+ writers boycott NYT Opinion, cite persistent anti-Palestine bias

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, Injure 3 Palestinians
Politics

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, injure 3 Palestinians

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS