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Norway Announces Relocation of Ukrainian F-16 Pilot Training to Portugal

Dec 14, 2024 16:45

1 min read

Authors: Amira Barkhush
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Norway's Minister of Defense, Bjørn Arild Gram, (L) sits in an F16 aircraft at Bodø airport, Norway, on January 3, 2024, where the final preparations are being made before two Norwegian F-16 aircraft are sent to Denmark to be used in the training of Ukrai

Norway will transfer the training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots from Denmark to Portugal beginning in early 2025, according to the Norwegian Defense Ministry.

The Ministry reported that the Norwegian government has set aside funds to support the training of Ukrainian pilots and ground crews for 2025. At the beginning of the year, F-16 training in Denmark will be discontinued and instructors will be contributed to the training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots in Portugal.

Since autumn 2023, Norway has provided aircraft and instructors for the training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots in Denmark.

This effort is part of Norway's contribution to the Air Defense Coalition, a collaborative initiative supporting the development of the Ukrainian Air Force, including through donations of fighter jets.

In addition to Air Force personnel, Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services has also supplied staff with technical training.

At the end of November, Norway announced the allocation of an additional 50 million Norwegian kroner (approximately $4.5 million) to the “Grain from Ukraine” initiative.