Norway to Supply Ukraine with Six F-16 Fighter Jets

Norway will soon provide Ukraine with six F-16 fighter jets, announced Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umierov on October 17.

Umierov held bilateral talks with Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram during the Ukraine-NATO Council.

"We discussed the current situation on the front lines and our needs, particularly for long-range weapons. We reached specific agreements to strengthen our air defense. A key focus is the aviation component, specifically enhancing our capabilities with F-16 fighters. Norway will continue its support and will provide Ukraine with six aircraft in the near future," Ukraine’s Defense Minister stated.

The ministers also discussed the development of Ukraine's defense industry. Umierov invited Norway to join the "Danish model," which involves direct funding for Ukrainian defense enterprises.

Additionally, the Defense Minister proposed that Norway take mentorship over one of the Ukrainian Armed Forces brigades, similar to France's approach, which includes training and equipping the unit.

On August 4, 2024, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially confirmed the arrival of F-16 fighters in Ukraine. These advanced aircraft marked a crucial step in enhancing the Ukrainian armed forces.

Earlier, Russian military blogger claimed that a Ukrainian F-16 may have shot down a Russian Su-34 fighter jet, potentially marking the first confirmed instance of Ukraine using a Western-supplied aircraft to down a Russian piloted jet.