During the NATO Summit on 11 July, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) signed a statement alongside Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Romania, and the United Kingdom regarding the training of the Ukrainian Air Force.
“The countries in the coalition aim to assist Ukraine in defending its own airspace. To achieve this, we will establish a joint coalition for training the Ukrainian Air Force in the operation and maintenance of F-16 fighter jets, with the possibility of including other types of fighter aircraft at a later stage,” said Bjørn Arild Gram.
“We agree that continued support to Ukraine is of great importance in light of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. The F-16 coalition will initially focus on training. Norway aims to participate by providing personnel for the training to be conducted in Denmark,” Gram added.
The coalition members have agreed to commence training for Ukrainian pilots, technicians, and support personnel. This training will equip the Ukrainian Air Force with the fundamental capabilities required to operate, service, and maintain F-16 fighter aircraft. The coalition will provide the necessary equipment, instructors, and personnel for the training. All training activities will take place outside of Ukraine.
The joint coalition’s primary focus will be on training, but it remains open to considering other avenues of support to ensure Ukraine’s full operational F-16 capability.
The establishment of this coalition reflects the commitment of Norway and the other participating countries to support Ukraine in strengthening its defense capabilities and enhancing its ability to protect its airspace.