The first two Danish F-16AM fighters have arrived in Ukraine. The aircraft were personally presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vasylkiv airfield, 40 km from Kyiv. The aircraft's side numbers have been obscured, but thanks to photos from the flights, they were identified as UA 80-3596 and UA 80-3599. Both Ukrainian fighters were built under license at the Belgian aircraft manufacturer SABCA, and in 1982 they were transferred to Denmark under the numbers E-596 and E-599. Denmark plans to transfer a total of 79 F-16 fighters to Ukraine. The estimated service life of the F-16A/B airframe is 8,000 hours, while all "European" F-16A/Bs have a flight time of 7,000 to 7,500 hours to date. The Ukrainian F-16 fighters are equipped with medium-range AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and short-range AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. The aircraft have external fuel tanks. Presumably, the F-16's task will be to support the remaining Ukrainian Su-24MR and MiG-29 aircraft, as well as launch Storm Shadow and SCALP cruise missiles. Ukrainian F-16 pilots received JHMCS helmet-mounted targeting sights, which allows the pilot to shoot where his gaze is directed regardless of the direction of the helmet. The aircraft are equipped with the Terma PIDS+ and ECIPS+ missile attack warning system, with a jamming device and the release of additional heat traps. The F-16 fighters transferred to Ukraine will be based at the Limanske airfield in the Odessa region on the border with Romania.
