Poulsen said that Denmark will be transitioning to the newer F-35 jets, which will use the Skrydstrup Air Base where Ukrainian pilots are currently being trained.

鈥淲e have to devote all our unmitigated energy on this, hence we cannot continue training Ukrainian pilots post 2024,鈥� Poulsen was quoted to have said during the press conference.  

By the end of 2024, Denmark will have trained around 20 Ukrainian pilots.

The minister stated that Denmark will still contribute to the training of Ukrainian pilots, but in other countries. Poulsen also said that Denmark will deliver 19 F-16s to Ukraine once the pilot training is completed.

The United States, the Netherlands and Denmark are leading the international coalition tasked with training F-16 pilots, technicians, and support personnel for the Ukrainian Air Force. The coalition was formed in July 2023 during the Vilnius Summit. 

Denmark has ordered 27 F-35s but has been met with delivery delays due to Lockheed Martin struggling to complete an upgrade known as Technology Refresh 3.

Denmark to retire F-16s sooner and pave way for Ukraine donation: MoD

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2023-06-27

The sole pilot aboard the F-16 fighter jet managed to eject safely from the aircraft and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he has since been discharged.  

According to the Air Force, the incident involving a F-16 fighter jet occurred near White Sands National Park at around 11:50 on April 30, 2024. 

Following the crash members of the public were advised to avoid the area to 鈥減revent possible exposure to hazardous chemicals onboard the aircraft鈥�. 

Although the national park remained open, some areas were closed off while emergency responders were on site and assisting with the incident.  

鈥淚 want to take the time to personally thank our partners in the local community鈥攖he White Sands National Park, New Mexico State Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Otero County Sheriff精东影业 Office Do and the U.S. Army Air Flight Detachment, for their support today,鈥� US Air Force Col. Justin Spears, 49th Wing commander, said. 鈥淭hey were vital in the response efforts. On days like today, we are incredibly proud to be part of this amazing community.鈥� 

The US Air Force confirmed in a statement that an investigation conducted by a board of qualified officers is underway to determine the cause of the incident and that the pilot is in 鈥済ood condition鈥� following the crash. 

In December 2023, a US Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed off South Korea精东影业 southeastern coast and a month later another F-16 crashed off the west coast of South Korea. Both pilots safely ejected.  

UK to deploy domestically made hypersonic cruise missile by 2030

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2024-04-30

The pilots have undergone intensive training in the United Kingdom (UK), involving basic flying, ground school and language training. 

As part of their training, the pilots have been taught general aircraft handling, flying using the aircraft精东影业 instruments, low level navigation and advanced formation flying by experienced RAF instructors. 

They also received English language tutoring to assist in their training and to boost interoperability with NATO air forces, where English is the standardized international flight language.听

The training comes following a request from Ukraine to provide its air force with F-16 fighter jets so that the country can defend its skies from Russian forces, in the wake of the invasion back in February 2022.听

While countries such as the Netherlands and Demark are providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, the UK was only able to offer training, as it does not operate the aircraft.  

The intensive training carried out by the RAF constitutes the UK精东影业 contribution to the Air Capability Coalition, co-led by the United States (US), Denmark and the Netherlands.  

The Ukrainian pilots will now move to advanced flying training provided by the French Air Force before learning to fly F-16 fighter jets. On September 3, 2023, the authorities of France and Ukraine reported that they had reached a deal to train Ukrainian pilots in France.听

The first group of Ukrainian pilots have completed basic flying training in the UK. 馃嚞馃嚙馃馃嚭馃嚘

We salute their courage and determination.

They will now continue their training journey in France, before eventually getting to grips with the F-16. over to you 馃嚝馃嚪

— Ministry of Defence 馃嚞馃嚙 (@DefenceHQ)

UK Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps said: 鈥淚 would like to congratulate these brave pilots on completing their initial training here in the UK. Thanks to the world-renowned skills of RAF, these pilots have received some of the best training available and are now a step closer to joining the fight against Putin精东影业 illegal invasion.”  

According to the UK, the first F-16s are set to be delivered to Ukraine by summer 2024. 

Ukraine pilots have also been undergoing F-16 training in the US since October 2023, at Morris Air National Guard base in Tucson, Arizona.   

Several Ukrainian pilots are expected to complete their training by May 2024.听

Ukraine hopes to restart commercial flights from Kyiv as soon as possible聽

• Aviation

byLuke Peters

2024-03-12

The 204-tonne jet, laden with 80 tons of fuel, was travelling at 160mph an hour when video footage captured the moment the tire burst.  

According to the RAF, the Voyager crew were unaware of what happened and proceeded to takeoff as normal.听聽

It was only when tire pressure sensors onboard the aircraft alerted the crew that they realized what had happened.听

External cameras attached to the outside of the Voyager were used to assess and determine the extent of the damage.  

The incident happened in the US where the Voyager is supporting British and US fighter jets with an aerial combat exercise called 鈥楻ed Flag鈥�. 

The Voyager flight crew were able to call upon the help of a US Air Force F-16 fighter jet to fly alongside the damaged plane and carry out a visual inspection.  

After assessing the damage and planning how the aircraft could be safely landed, the Voyager crew reduced the amount of fuel it was carrying.  

US Air Force firefighters at were alerted to cover all eventualities but the Voyager eventually landed safely back at the base and taxied back to its parking spot.听

鈥淭his was my first flight in charge of the cabin with passengers onboard. It was a shock to learn that the tire had burst, but my training kicked in and I worked with the pilots and other crew to keep the passengers updated and reassure them,鈥� Corporal Jaz Lawton, Cabin Supervisor, said.  

Overnight RAF engineers worked to replace the tires and the Voyager was ready to continue work the very next day.  

鈥淭his has been an eventful day, but it is reassuring to be part of a wider team that operates so effectively under pressure,鈥� the Voyager Captain said.听聽

Ukrainian Air Force claims to have shot down Russian Su-34 aircraft in Luhansk

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2024-01-30

But which fighter jets are proving to be the most popular choice for the world精东影业 air forces in 2024? 精东影业 investigates. 

Of course, several caveats must be included as we collect the data. We may never know exact numbers for sure. Some of the aircraft may be non-operational, lost in combat or used for spare parts. However, these figures are the closest we can get to the truth. 

While data from the has been used to compile this list, 精东影业 has also incorporated additional information from the International Institute for and other sources such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing.听

10. Northrop F-5: over 400

One of the oldest jets on this list, the F-5 was developed back in the 1950s and has seen numerous conflicts since then. Of the , just over 400 are still considered operational, most of which are serving with the Brazilian, Iranian, South Korean, and Taiwanese air forces among others. 

There is a high chance that the actual number of operational F-5s is a great deal lower, as most of these aircraft are exceedingly old. 

9. Eurofighter Typhoon: over 530聽

Created as a joint European fighter jet, the Eurofighter Typhoon is not only operated by European air forces (Spanish, German, Italian, Austrian, and the United Kingdom精东影业 Royal Air Force) but by many Middle Eastern countries as well. It has been exported to Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.  

Furthermore, the jet is still in production with , and countries are continuing to place orders for it. So, its numbers are likely to rise for years to come. 

8. Chengdu J-10: over 550

A fourth-generation jet designed by China in the 1990s, the J-10 quickly became one the most popular types of aircraft in China精东影业 People精东影业 Liberation Army. While very few J-10s have ever been exported (Pakistan is the only other country to ), quite a large number have been manufactured over 600. 

7. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II: over 660

The only fifth-generation fighter jet on this list, the F-35 was intended to replace earlier jets like the F-16, the F/A-18, and the Harrier in various branches of the US military. Many other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, Germany, and others, have also ordered the jet, and it has been a huge export success. 

Although groundbreaking in many ways, initially the F-35 had a number of problems, and its development grossly exceeded its budget. However, with problems now ironed out, Lockheed Martin of the aircraft, .  

6. MiG-29 family: over 800聽

The Soviet answer to the F-16, the MiG-29 Fulcrum was a comparatively light and cheap fighter jet intended to supplement the heavier Su-27. It was exported across the globe and remains operational in many countries with past ties to the USSR. The number reported is over 1,600 of these jets made.

In the 2000s Russia developed an upgraded version of the jet, the MiG-35. However, it wasn鈥檛 successful, and just over a . Meanwhile, the worldwide fleet of old MiG-29s continues to decline, as many Fulcrums are being retired, while others are being destroyed during international conflicts such as the Syrian civil war and Russia精东影业 invasion of Ukraine. 

5. McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet: over 830聽

Developed as a light carrier-borne fighter and attack jet for the United States Navy (USN), the F/A-18, also known simply as the F-18, was also exported to Australia, Canada, Spain, and other countries to be used as a regular fighter jet.  

In the 1990s a heavily upgraded version, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, was developed and is still in production. Meanwhile, the USN had begun to , replacing them with the new variants as those came in. So, although , more than half remain operational. 

4. McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle: over 940聽

Not just one of the most popular, the F-15 is considered the most successful fighter jet ever built. It scored more than 100 victories in air combat while never actually being shot down by other aircraft. 

Besides the US, large numbers of F-15s are operated by Israel, Japan, Qatar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. In total, 1,198 units of the F-15 were built. The jet is still being produced as the Boeing F-15EX in . 

3. MiG-21 family: over 1,100聽

It is hard to believe that the MiG-21 is not only one of the oldest fighter jets still in service but also, one of the most popular. The USSR , including some made in India and Czechoslovakia. Production concluded in 1985. On paper, more than 300 original MiG-21s are still operated across the globe, as well as more than 800 of its Chinese copies, designated as the Chengdu J-7, and a similar number of the Chengdu F-7, export versions of the J-7.听

However, it is important to keep in mind that these numbers are very likely to be wrong. Many of the aircraft are extremely old and likely not in good shape, so the MiG-21 should probably rank a few places lower. But there is no possibility of knowing this for sure because militaries don鈥檛 tend to be open about their real capabilities. 

2. Sukhoi Su-27 family: over 1,240

The Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, developed in the Soviet Union as an answer to the F-15, was extremely popular and successful. It spawned a huge family, with Sukhoi continuing to produce upgraded versions such as the Su-30, the Su-34, and the Su-35, while China developed several home-grown copies such as the Shenyang J-11 and the J-16. 

Out of the 1,600 aircraft made only over 1,240 original Su-27s remain operational today and this number is dwindling. However, the Flanker精东影业 derivatives keep being produced in large numbers and exported all over the world. As a result, this jet will likely remain in the skies for decades to come.  

1. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon: over 2,100 

Initially developed as a cheaper and lighter counterpart to the F-15, the F-16 grew to become one of the most popular and the most recognizable fighter jets in the world, with more than . The type remains in production to this day. 

As the old F-16s continue to be retired, new and upgraded versions enter production. Additionally, more and more countries keep ordering the aircraft. According to its current manufacturer Lockheed Martin, F-16 production lines are overstrained, the company can鈥檛 keep up with the orders, and have been forced to delay some long-awaited deliveries. 

Used by more than 25 countries and continuing to sell like hotcakes, the F-16 is certainly the most widely operated fighter jet in the world and will most likely remain in this position for the foreseeable future. 

What about the others such as the JF-17, the Su-25, and the F-4?聽

There are lists that include other types of jet as the most widely operated. 

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is included in some of these compilations, but that is very likely to be wrong and outdated. While more than 5,000 F-4s have been built, making it the most-produced Western supersonic fighter jet, almost all have already been retired and around 150 remain in operation.听

The Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot is not a fighter jet, it is a dedicated ground attack aircraft and therefore does not have a place on this list. Furthermore, with only around 400 Su-25s operational worldwide, there is even doubt that the jet could make it onto a list such as this 鈥� there might be more F-5s than Su-25s in the world. 

Some have recently claimed that the CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder, a joint Chinese-Pakistani fighter jet, is on its way to becoming the most widely operated in the world. However, only around 150 JF-17s have been made so far. The jet is currently in operation with just three countries, although several other nations are considering ordering it in the future.听聽

If compared with any aircraft on this list, the JF-17 is certainly not very widely operated. And since there is absolutely no evidence that China and Pakistan will suddenly start to manufacture the JF-17s in its thousands, the prospect that Thunder will top this list is not very bright.  

The F-16, which was on a routine mission, encountered an issue that resulted in a deflated tire upon touchdown.  

In a statement on Facebook, the RSAF confirmed the malfunction and tire issue but did not elaborate on the nature of the incident.  

There were no injuries to personnel, including the pilot, the RSAF added.  

The affected jet was towed off the runway to allow for further inspection and repairs. This quick action helped to minimize the impact on Changi Airport’s operations.  

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore () reported that Runway 3 was temporarily closed following the incident but reopened around 1:30 pm local time after safety checks were completed.听

During the temporary closure of the runway, no flights were diverted. However, according to the CAAS statement, around 74 flights experienced some delays, with an average delay of less than 30 minutes.  

Tourist jailed for attempting to bribe officials at Singapore’s Changi Airport

• Airport

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-11-09

The training hub, which opened on November 13, 2023, not only serves NATO members but also extends its capabilities to Ukraine.  

The Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren, who was present at the inauguration, emphasized the importance of European defense cooperation, stating that no European country can guarantee its security independently.  

鈥淭his type of cooperation 鈥� with the defense industry added to the mix 鈥� is the future because it is the only way for us to deal with the current threats,鈥� she wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) after the event.  

This center is also a practical response to Ukraine’s call for sophisticated fighter aircraft. Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has sought advanced combat capabilities, with NATO countries including Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium expressing willingness to provide F-16 fighter jets.  

Denmark plans to send the first jets by April 2024, with Belgium following suit by 2025, subject to government approval after elections in 2024. 

Notably, the Dutch government has already delivered five F-16s to the Romanian center and intends to provide 12 to 18 additional aircraft for training. However, these jets will remain Dutch property and will only be allowed to fly in NATO airspace.听

Lockheed Martin, the US company that manufactures the F-16, will also contribute to the training and maintenance of the center.听

The center’s establishment coincides with Romania’s efforts to improve its military capabilities, including the purchase of United States-made Abrams battle tanks and F-35 fighter jets.

Ukraine accuses Russia of airdropping explosives into Black Sea grain corridor

• Defense

byEmilia Stankeviciute

2023-10-26

The deployment also signals the initial phase in the operational setup of the European F-16 Training Centre (EFTC) at the 86th Air Base, near Fete葯ti, Romania, a facility aimed at bolstering the air force competencies of Ukrainian and Romanian pilots. 

The arrival of the five F-16 aircraft, consisting of single seater F-16AM and two-seater F-16BM aircraft, was confirmed by the Dutch Ministry of Defense on November 7, 2023.  

This initiative, supported by the United States and led by the Netherlands in partnership with Denmark, is a proactive measure to enhance the operational readiness of NATO air forces. The EFTC is poised to become a pivotal institution for NATO, focusing on the standardization of tactics and procedures among its member states.  

In a press release the Romanian Ministry of National Defense said it will provide the 86th Air Base, complete with essential training infrastructure, to support the operations of the European F-16 Training Centre, while the RNLAF will supply the F-16 aircraft, and is tasked with providing instructors and maintenance services.听

Currently operating 17 F-16 aircraft of its own, Romania is also scheduled to receive another 32 from Norway in the near future. The EFTC is expected to streamline the training process for Romanian pilots, facilitating a smoother integration of the additional aircraft into the Romanian Air Force’s operational fleet. 

An official ceremony to mark the opening of the EFTC will be announced at a later date and will symbolize the collaborative defense efforts of NATO allies. 

Ukrainian Air Force releases footage of pilots training to fly F-16 fighters

• Defense

byEmilia Stankeviciute

2023-09-27

Details about the interception were confirmed by the US Secret Service on October 28, 2023. 

鈥淪hortly after 2 pm, a civilian aircraft violated restricted airspace north of Wilmington, Delaware. As a precaution, assets were scrambled to intercept, and the civilian aircraft safely landed at a nearby airport,鈥� a statement by the Secret Service read. 

According to the Secret Service, President Biden精东影业 movements were not impacted by the incident and the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the infringement. 

Statement on aircraft violation north of Wilmington, Delaware. This incident had no impact on protective operations and is being investigated by the Secret Service & .

— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox)

The Continental US NORAD Region (CONR) confirmed that as well as the F-16 fighter jet a MH-65 helicopter was also scrambled to assist.  

CONR, which provides airspace surveillance over the US, said that the violation happened at 2:25 pm local time and the civillian aircraft was escorted out of the restricted area.  

Flares were used by the military aircraft to 鈥渄raw attention from or communicate with the pilot鈥�. CONR added in a statement that the flares may have been visible to the public. 

CONR is part of the (NORAD), which uses radars, satellites and fighter jets to identify aircraft and determine the appropriate response.

All air defense operations over North America use the mission name NOBLE EAGLE and draws on forces from both the US and Canada. 

Chinese fighter jet in near collision with US B-52 bomber over South China Sea

• Defense

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-10-27

These virtual reality sessions allow pilots to familiarize themselves with the F-16 cockpit, execute joint missions, and even engage in simulated combat scenarios over Ukrainian territory, the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement released alongside the video on September 27, 2023. 

The simulators, equipped with real maps of Ukraine, including occupied territories, provide a realistic training environment.听

“Of course, our goal is to have fully fledged F-16 aircraft training facilities on the territory of Ukraine, training aircraft (Polish Iskras (Sparks)) and flight training centers. But it all starts with small things,鈥� read the statement, which was shared on Facebook and Telegram.  

While some pilots are undergoing hands-on F-16 training abroad, those in Ukraine are leveraging technology to get a head start 鈥渨hen there is a bit of free time,鈥� the statement added. 

Several Western countries have committed to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets as part of an aviation coalition. 

Denmark announced it had started training eight Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 fighter jets in August 2023.  

The US also announced that it will commence training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 jets in October 2023, following an English-language course as jet manuals are all in English. 

US Department of Defense Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder highlighted that the training provided by the US would complement the ongoing F-16 pilot and maintenance training in Europe. 

Other European countries such as the Netherlands and Norway have expressed their readiness to supply Ukraine with F-16s.  

In August 2023, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine aims to acquire between 50-60 F-16 jets, though it is estimated that the country requires 160 to effectively defend its airspace. 

The first batch of Ukrainian pilots training in the US are expected to complete their courses by the end of 2023. However, combat readiness could take a bit longer, with projections indicating operational capability by the winter of 2023-2024. 

Turkish President says support for Sweden’s NATO bid hinges on US F-16 deal

• Defense

byEmilia Stankeviciute

2023-09-27