The Royal Danish Air Power (RDAF) is saying goodbye to the final of its F-16 Combating Falcons as the ultimate “Viper” squadron transitions to the brand new F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter. The impeccably maintained jets are nowhere close to the tip of their service lives, so with many good years nonetheless left within the airframes, Denmark has promised to donate 19 to the Ukrainian Air Power (UkrAF).
The Struggle Zone reported that the final F-16s of Squadron 727 departed for his or her farewell flight on January 18 from Skrydstrup Air Base. Quickly, these helpful fourth-generation mild fighters can be defending the skies over Kyiv from invaders as they carry out air interceptions, floor strikes, and shoot down Russian drones.
Strengthening Ukraine’s Protect
Credit score: Danish Armed Forces
The Viper fighter jets have made a substantial enchancment to Ukraine’s Air Defenses as far more trendy, dependable, and efficient platforms than the outdated ex-Soviet fighters that the UkrAF was flying on the outset of the invasion. But, at the very least 4 F-16s have been misplaced in motion, with three pilots dropping their lives, together with Lieutenant Colonel Oleksii Mes, name signal “Moonfish,” who was the face of the UkrAF marketing campaign to accumulate the jets and one of many first pilots skilled to fly them.
The UkrAf nonetheless operates Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum multirole fighters and Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker interceptors in its fleet. The extra superior F-16s are a big improve for the small air drive, which isn’t solely battling with the world’s second-largest air energy however can be far outclassed on a one-to-one foundation. Each time they launch on a sortie, Ukrainian pilots go head-to-head towards fighters just like the superior, supermaneuverable Su-35 Tremendous Flanker and even the Su-57 Felon stealth fighter, which have reportedly been seen nearer to the entrance as nicely.
The frontline is closely saturated with air protection, drones, and manned plane on either side, however the Russian Air Power has each a colossal quantitative and qualitative benefit. In a video launched by the UkrAF on YouTube two weeks in the past, one F-16 pilot described how Ukrainian pilots use each tactic and power at their disposal within the face of an amazing adversary to stave off assaults towards their folks by the Russian attackers. He says:
“[We] have to make use of maneuver techniques when enemy plane come at us, lock us up, and launch air-to-air missiles at our planes. However no matter this, with these restricted capabilities, we stock out the duty. We all know that we’re taking a threat.”
Vipers Incoming
Credit score: Danish Armed Forces
Denmark and the Netherlands had been the primary nations to pledge deliveries of F-16 fighters to Ukraine after rounds of negotiations between North Atlantic Treaty Group (NATO) members and the USA in 2023. Since then, two extra international locations have joined as nicely, with Belgium and Norway promising to donate 30 and 14 Vipers, respectively. Including to the 24 Dutch and 19 Danish jets, that brings the overall variety of F-16s promised to the UkrAF to 87.
President Zelenskyy of Ukraine confirmed the Vipers’ fight debut passed off later that summer time on August 27, 2024. Within the 16 months which have adopted, Ukrainian pilots have destroyed over 1,000 aerial targets and as many floor targets in protection of their besieged homeland. AeroTime reported in Could, 2025 that the Netherlands accomplished the switch of all 24 Normal Dynamics F-16s it pledged to Ukraine.
As of January 2026, the statistical reporting portal, World Inhabitants Evaluate exhibits that Russian is armed with 4,292 army plane of every kind, whereas Ukraine can muster solely 324 airframes. Breaking that quantity down to simply fighters, the World Listing of Fashionable Army Plane (WDMMA) lists 1,008 tactical jets within the Russian stock, with the UkrAF having, at most, 103 fighter jets in complete.
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The jets had been transported throughout the Atlantic final week on an Antonov cargo airplane.
The Human Value
Credit score: Ukrainian Air Power
Lieutenant Colonel “Moonfish” Mes was posthumously awarded the title “Hero of Ukraine” for his valor on the battlefield after dropping his life whereas capturing down three cruise missiles and one unmanned fight aerial car (UCAV). After motion stories confirmed that whereas a missile exploded in proximity to Moonfish’s F-16, it didn’t seem like the reason for his crash.
It’s believed that Moonfish misplaced management whereas maneuvering, and within the wake of his demise, coaching applications held in host nations, like the USA and the UK, had been reassessed to make sure that all aircrew would obtain extra thorough instruction. Regardless of overhauled coaching regimens, the battle to defend Ukraine has continued to take its toll on the courageous women and men in hurt’s manner.
