Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren expects it will take at least six to eight months before the first Ukrainian pilots complete training to fly the F-16s.‘s can fly, he adds On 1. That means the first batch, which began training in Denmark this month, won’t be ready until February at the earliest. Additionally, he views it more positively than some sources in Ukraine’s military and political elite.

Senior Ukrainian government and military officials believe the exercise will not be completed until the summer The Washington Post Latest post based on anonymous sources. Ollangren expressed his expectation in July that training would take at least six to eight months, so he has not yet changed his mind.

‘Ukrainians have surprised us positively so far‘, Ollongren says. Because, according to the minister ‘Super motivated’ too ‘Technically good‘ There are ‘That is why we dare to be very confident that it should succeed in those six to eight months.According to the minister, it usually takes a lot of time to train pilots.

The minister believes that the Netherlands is willing to provide the aircraft ‘In course of next year‘ Go to Ukraine. Apart from training the pilots, many other things have to be arranged. Ukrainians need to keep their infrastructure in order, be able to maintain fighter jets, have spare parts in stock and have the right weapons. According to Ollongren, it’s different ‘Without an explanation‘ For the F-16‘Provide s.

It is not yet clear how many Dutch F-16s will be delivered to Ukraine. Ollongren doesn’t name a number, but she says ‘zas much as possible‘ Of the 42 aircraft at its disposal in that direction. The defense currently has 24 in use and training requires many of them. ‘We still have to piece that puzzle together‘says the minister. (AP)

Also read this interview with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Koleba and Vopke Hoekstra: Netherlands to be first delivery of F-16s to Ukraine: ‘Announcing this will change the front’