Denmark has decided to halt training Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet pilots on Danish soil after 2024. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced the decision, stating that Denmark’s fighter jet fleet will transition to F-35s. The new combat aircraft will be based at Skrydstrup Air Base in Vojens, southern Denmark, where Ukrainian pilots are currently being trained. All 20 trainees will complete their program by the end of the year. Denmark will continue to support Ukraine’s air training outside of the country, alongside Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands, by donating a total of 85 F-16 jets to Kyiv.
Ukraine has expressed an urgent need for F-16 training, as the country lacks fully-certified pilots to crew a full squadron. The US F-16 school in Tucson, Arizona, can only accommodate 12 additional trainees, with other countries also seeking the same training curriculum. Romania has taken in eight Ukrainian pilots in preparation for the start of its own program, joining other countries in supporting Ukraine’s fighter program.
