Norway Sends Six F-16 Fighter Jets To Ukraine, PM Store: Very Important To Protect Yourself

President Zelensky in the cockpit of the F-16 fighter jet. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - The Norwegian government announced on Wednesday it would donate six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to assist defense efforts against Russian airstrikes, leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) attending a meeting in Washington DC, United States.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the F-16 shipment is planned to begin in 2024.

"Combined with the air defense system, these fighter jets will be critical to allow Ukraine to defend itself against Russian airstrikes," the PM Store said in a statement.

Earlier, the Prime Minister first announced Norway would donate the F-16 to Kyiv in August last year, but did not say how much it would give.

Since then, Oslo has delivered two F-16 jets to Denmark for use in Ukrainian pilot-pilot training.

It is known that the leaders of NATO member states are ready to announce new aid for Ukraine to help Ukraine defend itself after the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Hoping to change the direction of war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants the 32-member alliance to deliver more weapons and money, as well as offer security guarantees.

The F-16 fighter jets have been on Ukraine's wish list for a long time as power is destroyed and available globally. These fighter jets are equipped with 20mm cannons and can carry bombs, rockets, and missiles.

A senior NATO official said this week Ukraine had not yet collected the ammunition and personnel needed to launch a large-scale offensive operation.

Before Norway, Denmark had committed to donating a total of 19 jets. The Netherlands has pledged to deliver 24 aircraft. The two countries have become the driving force behind the international coalition to supply the F-16 to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian Air Force has replaced its F-16 with the successor model of the F-35 fighter jet.