[gocard14]

Finally we have some action on western fighters. Biden endorses training on F16s. Better late then never. 

https://apnews.com/article/g7-japan-hiro...2f9a408408

When fighters are delivered, how many, and who provides them to be worked out as training is ongoing. 
Biden told the leaders that decisions on when, how many, and who will provide the fourth-generation fighter jets for Ukraine to use in battle will be made in the months ahead while the training is underway.
[size=1]Biden told the leaders that decisions on when, how many, and who will provide the fourth-generation fighter jets for Ukraine to use in battle will be made in the months ahead while the training is underway.[/size]
Biden told the leaders that decisions on when, how many, and who will provide the fourth-generation fighter jets for Ukraine to use in battle will be made in the months ahead while the training is underw

Belgium, Denmark, The Dutch Republic, and Norway are the best candidates. Norway has 64 F-16 that it took out of service in 2022. These are well-maintained aircraft that are all of the same "Rev" (except for 2 seaters). Theoretically they have sold 32 of them to Romania. This is probably the largest homogeneous group available. The Netherlands has 48 F-16 operational. Denmark has "around 30" aircraft available. Belgium has "around 50". The Belgian ones are upgraded to the AM standard, which makes them "similar" to the C/D versions. The Netherlands is getting F-35s, "soon" so they can probably let theirs go without much grief. Belgium isn't quite as far down that road, but it isn't clear to what extent they intend to continue operating their F-16s in the interim :-) OTOH theirs are upgraded. Greece and Portugal don't have enough airplanes to really "count" much in this potlatch, and Greece arguably needs what it has.

No matter what happens here, if the F-16s are delivered as a "mixed set", it will be a nightmare maintenance and training wise. Beggars can't be choosers, but keeping straight which jammers go on which aircraft, what the maximum bomb load is, which aircraft have software for which weapons will be a mess. To some degree NATO has that issue as well, but since each nation is responsible to support it's own aircraft, there is a plan to provide the support. The various units intend to operate as units, not mixed together. Their mechanics and maintenance people know their airplanes. Ukraine will not be in that state.

Ideally, Ukraine would send pilots/maintenance crews to the US who will train on the current standard of the ANG and take their planes back to Ukraine with them. That isn't happening, so what does happen is going to be a bit of a mess. Keep in mind that training areas in Europe are actually quite limited, and that by September the weather really starts to bite into the flyable days, particularly for rookies. There are simulators, but that isn't a sufficient background, especially for guys who are going directly from training to combat.

Seems crazy for the country operating over 1000 F16s not to send a couple squadrons. Hell the budget in 2022 called for sending 47 F16C/D to the boneyard. They are probably getting near their limit for flight hours, but I’m sure the Ukrainians would rather have them then the scrapyard.

[gocard14]

Finally we have some action on western fighters. Biden endorses training on F16s. Better late then never. 

https://apnews.com/article/g7-japan-hiro...2f9a408408

When fighters are delivered, how many, and who provides them to be worked out as training is ongoing. 
Biden told the leaders that decisions on when, how many, and who will provide the fourth-generation fighter jets for Ukraine to use in battle will be made in the months ahead while the training is underway.
[size=1]Biden told the leaders that decisions on when, how many, and who will provide the fourth-generation fighter jets for Ukraine to use in battle will be made in the months ahead while the training is underway.[/size]
Biden told the leaders that decisions on when, how many, and who will provide the fourth-generation fighter jets for Ukraine to use in battle will be made in the months ahead while the training is underw

Belgium, Denmark, The Dutch Republic, and Norway are the best candidates. Norway has 64 F-16 that it took out of service in 2022. These are well-maintained aircraft that are all of the same "Rev" (except for 2 seaters). Theoretically they have sold 32 of them to Romania. This is probably the largest homogeneous group available. The Netherlands has 48 F-16 operational. Denmark has "around 30" aircraft available. Belgium has "around 50". The Belgian ones are upgraded to the AM standard, which makes them "similar" to the C/D versions. The Netherlands is getting F-35s, "soon" so they can probably let theirs go without much grief. Belgium isn't quite as far down that road, but it isn't clear to what extent they intend to continue operating their F-16s in the interim :-) OTOH theirs are upgraded. Greece and Portugal don't have enough airplanes to really "count" much in this potlatch, and Greece arguably needs what it has.

No matter what happens here, if the F-16s are delivered as a "mixed set", it will be a nightmare maintenance and training wise. Beggars can't be choosers, but keeping straight which jammers go on which aircraft, what the maximum bomb load is, which aircraft have software for which weapons will be a mess. To some degree NATO has that issue as well, but since each nation is responsible to support it's own aircraft, there is a plan to provide the support. The various units intend to operate as units, not mixed together. Their mechanics and maintenance people know their airplanes. Ukraine will not be in that state.

Ideally, Ukraine would send pilots/maintenance crews to the US who will train on the current standard of the ANG and take their planes back to Ukraine with them. That isn't happening, so what does happen is going to be a bit of a mess. Keep in mind that training areas in Europe are actually quite limited, and that by September the weather really starts to bite into the flyable days, particularly for rookies. There are simulators, but that isn't a sufficient background, especially for guys who are going directly from training to combat.

Seems crazy for the country operating over 1000 F16s not to send a couple squadrons. Hell the budget in 2022 called for sending 47 F16C/D to the boneyard. They are probably getting near their limit for flight hours, but I’m sure the Ukrainians would rather have them then the scrapyard.