01-06-2024, 10:50 AM
https://www.yahoo.com/news/media-denmark...37164.html
Another "reality check". Denmark probably has all kinds of problems providing these aircraft. One probably is late (and getting later) deliveries of F-35s. Lockheed really does need some consequences for their really poor performance on deliveries. I am sure there are plenty of "good" reasons but as the prime contractor it is their responsibility to avoid these issues. I detect a distinct lack of urgency fueled by lack of interest in the congress and the pentagon. The Danish order isn't directly a "US" problem, but there are plenty of late deliveries to the US military to be "addressed".
I also suspect the state of maintenance of the Danish F-16s may not be all it was cracked up to be. Aircraft going to the boneyard in a few months probably go the the tail of the queue and stay there, no matter what the paperwork says. Be prepared for more of this from other EU suppliers. There may be more to it than just aircraft supply. Some of these nations may have realized the state of training of the F-16 pilots may not be the greatest and are using delayed supply of aircraft as a way to allow training to continue. No way to know this, but it makes sense (perversely).
The US should simply supply the aircraft. We have them. We can part with them without debilitating our air force. Ukraine is relying on having an air force to push the Russians back during the spring/summer fighting season. Without them, Ukraine is toast IMO. The F-16 isn't a wonder weapon. It won't win the war all by itself. However, it has become a symbol of Ukraine's potential victory. Take that away and I am sure civilian morale (probably already depressed after 3-4 months of Russian missile swarms) will drop like a rock. If the US doesn't understand this problem, shame on us.
Another "reality check". Denmark probably has all kinds of problems providing these aircraft. One probably is late (and getting later) deliveries of F-35s. Lockheed really does need some consequences for their really poor performance on deliveries. I am sure there are plenty of "good" reasons but as the prime contractor it is their responsibility to avoid these issues. I detect a distinct lack of urgency fueled by lack of interest in the congress and the pentagon. The Danish order isn't directly a "US" problem, but there are plenty of late deliveries to the US military to be "addressed".
I also suspect the state of maintenance of the Danish F-16s may not be all it was cracked up to be. Aircraft going to the boneyard in a few months probably go the the tail of the queue and stay there, no matter what the paperwork says. Be prepared for more of this from other EU suppliers. There may be more to it than just aircraft supply. Some of these nations may have realized the state of training of the F-16 pilots may not be the greatest and are using delayed supply of aircraft as a way to allow training to continue. No way to know this, but it makes sense (perversely).
The US should simply supply the aircraft. We have them. We can part with them without debilitating our air force. Ukraine is relying on having an air force to push the Russians back during the spring/summer fighting season. Without them, Ukraine is toast IMO. The F-16 isn't a wonder weapon. It won't win the war all by itself. However, it has become a symbol of Ukraine's potential victory. Take that away and I am sure civilian morale (probably already depressed after 3-4 months of Russian missile swarms) will drop like a rock. If the US doesn't understand this problem, shame on us.