According to Norwegian media, Oslo will deliver F-16 fighter jets to Kiev
Norway will supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Norwegian media announced Thursday without citing their sources. This makes the Scandinavian country the third country to commit to offering this type of aircraft to Kiev.
The Norwegian media did not provide any information on the number of aircraft or the possible delivery date. At the request of AFP, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense “neither confirmed nor denied” this information through a spokeswoman.
News of this possible delivery comes during Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere’s surprise visit to Kiev this Thursday, Ukraine’s Independence Day. Of the 57 Norwegian F-16s officially for sale, 32 have already been sold to Romania and another 12 have been handed over to the American private group Draken International without having been delivered to date.
If the information from the broadcasters NRK and TV2 and the newspaper Aftenposten is confirmed, Norway would be the third country after the Netherlands and Denmark to agree to deliver these planes to Ukraine.
On the other hand, the Norwegian government has secured the donation of IRIS-T anti-aircraft missiles and mine clearance equipment. The donation will be funded by the 75 billion Norwegian kroner ($7 billion) military and civilian relief plan for Kiev unveiled last February.
Stoere has assured that Norway will continue to support Ukraine’s defense as long as “it is necessary”. “Ukraine now urgently needs more military and material support. They urgently need missiles and ammunition for air defense. Here we support them with what we can,” he said in a statement.
The missiles could be fired from launchers that Sweden has pledged to donate, the letter said. Norway had previously sent Nasams and Mistral anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. (agencies)