Belgium will send two F-16s to Denmark and around fifty personnel to train Ukrainian pilots between March and September, the Ministry of Defence revealed on Thursday.
The training mission is part of the F-16 coalition, made up of thirteen countries and led by Denmark, the Netherlands and the US. The aim is to equip the Ukrainian Air Force with these types of fighter jets from the 1980s and 90s.
Ukrainian pilot training will take place in Romania, Denmark, the US and the UK. Six experienced pilots have recently completed their basic training, which includes English lessons, in the UK.
Norway announced on Wednesday the deployment of two F-16s to the Danish air base, Skrydstrup, also for Ukrainian pilots. According to the Defence Ministry's press service, the Belgian Air Force will do the same, sending a two-seater aircraft. Belgian F-16Bs will be stationed there from March to September for two eight-week periods.
The objective is not only to train pilots but also Ukrainian technicians and mission planners. Personnel will mainly come from the 2nd and 10th tactical wings based in Florennes and Kleine-Brogel respectively.
Denmark has made the Skrydstrup air base available for this purpose.
Romania is hosting an additional training centre, the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC), situated at Borcea Air Base, around 150 kilometres from the capital, Bucharest. Five Dutch F-16s were stationed there in November.
Joining the F-16 coalition, formally established last May, was agreed upon on September 15 by the restricted ministerial committee.
Denmark committed to delivering nineteen F-16s to Kyiv, with the Netherlands contributing eighteen as their new F-35 combat aircraft gradually come into service. Norway, which has stopped using its F-16s since switching to F-35s, has vaguely promised to contribute a few.
The Belgian Government decided to deliver F-16s to Ukraine from 2025, but the final decision will depend on the government in office at that time, with legislative elections in Belgium due in June 2024.
