Draken International, a private company, will not be able to purchase a batch of F-16s. The Dutch government has cancelled the deal. This is reported by analysts at Oryxspioenkop.
Draken International has signed a contract with the US government under which it acts as a contingent opponent during naval and air force exercises. It is also involved in pilot training.
An American company wanted to buy 40 fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters from the Dutch Ministry of Defense. It received 12 aircraft last year. However, the Netherlands decided not to realize the option for 28 fighters.
It is possible that these planes will eventually be handed over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The day before, it became known that the US had approved the training of Ukrainian pilots and would not block the re-export of F-16s to Ukraine.
President Joe Biden has told allies he was approving plans to train Ukrainian pilots on US-made F-16 fighter jets, according to those familiar with the matter, as leaders of the world’s most powerful democracies worked to toughen punishments on Russia for its 15-month invasion of Ukraine.
In a week time, Dutch Government will seek re-export licence from the Biden Administration to transfer 28 F-16 Fighting Falcon to Ukraine. Meanwhile, the U.S. has agreed to train Ukrainian pilots to fly and be combat ready on F-16 fighter jets.
The green light on F-16 training is the latest shift by the Biden administration as it moves to arm Ukraine with more advanced and lethal weaponry, following earlier decisions to send rocket launcher systems and Abrams tanks.
The US has insisted that it is sending weapons to Ukraine to defend itself and has discouraged attacks by Ukraine into Russian territory.
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