Page 47 - UKRRptJul24

Ukraine is set to receive its first batch of F-16 jets this summer, following the establishment of the "fighter jet coalition" by Denmark and the Netherlands, alongside nine other countries, at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023. This coalition has pledged to supply Kyiv with F-16s and to train Ukrainian pilots and technical staff to operate the U.S.-made jets.
So far, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway have pledged over 70 F-16s to Ukraine, with deliveries scheduled from 2024 onwards. However, Ustinova, who heads Ukraine's special parliamentary commission on arms and munitions, estimates that only 20 Ukrainian pilots will have completed the F-16 training program by the end of 2024.
According to Ustinova, twelve pilots are currently training in Denmark, and eight are undergoing training in Arizona. Despite the U.S. Air National Guard stating in May that the first batch of Ukrainian pilots had completed their training and would continue further training in Europe, no specific numbers were provided.
A third training program in Romania has yet to commence, despite Romanian Defence Minister Angel Tilvar announcing in November 2023 that the F-16 pilot training centre in Fetesti, 130 kilometres east of Bucharest, was officially open.
Ustinova described the delay as "totally political," suggesting that Washington is concerned that the presence of American F-16s in Ukraine could be perceived by Moscow as Ukraine integrating into NATO. "Everything we have been asking, we actually received, but six months later," she told The Times.
In a related development, Le Monde reported on June 17 that the French Air and Space Force had committed to training 26 Ukrainian pilots in the southwest of France. The training program, which officially began in March, currently hosts ten Ukrainian pilots who are training using Alphajets fitted with a panel simulating the F-16 cockpit instruments. The pilots are primarily being trained by reservists in their 50s.
The delays in training and the subsequent imbalance between the number of jets and trained pilots underscore the challenges Ukraine faces as it seeks to bolster its air defence capabilities amid ongoing conflict.
Danish F-16 fighters will soon be in Ukraine. President Zelenskiy met with Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen during the Peace Summit in Switzerland. As the president reported, Danish F-16 fighter jets will soon enter service with the Armed Forces. Also, the Netherlands will transfer 152-mm shells to Ukraine for €350M.
- Drones
Ukrainian drones are mining the waters near Crimea, and Britain is testing anti-drone weapons for $0.12. Ukrainian Sea Baby maritime drones are equipped with new technology to mine the waters. So far, Ukrainian drones have laid about 15 underwater mines in the waters near temporarily occupied Crimea. To date, four enemy ships have been blown up by these sea traps. Among them: a modern anti-mine ship, a missile corvette, a patrol boat, and a large tugboat. Through these actions, the SBU has demonstrated the world's first successful example of remote mining.
The UK military is conducting field tests of radio frequency directed energy anti-drone weapons. This system disables a drone's electronics and can shoot down several drones at once. The development is led by the French company Thales, which plans to create a joint venture in Ukraine. This weapon may appear on the market as early as 2025. With a cost of only 10 pence
47 UKRAINE Country Report July 2024 www.intellinews.com