Norway boosts Ukrainian defense with $159M F‑16 package
Norway announced an additional support package valued at CAD 159 million and the delivery of the first promised aircraft by the end of 2024. Here is what Norway will deliver.
Norway is one of the countries, alongside the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, that decided to hand over its F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. Now, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence has stated that the first aircraft will arrive in Ukraine this year and has allocated an additional $157.7 million CAD for the purchase of weapons and spare parts.
Oslo declared a total transfer of 22 aircraft, 12 of which would be operational, and 10 would serve as a spare parts depot. Now, additional funds may improve this equipment ratio.
Norwegian F-16 aircraft for Ukraine
Norway acquired its aircraft alongside the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium in the 1970s. These were the F-16A/B variant (single-seat and two-seat) aircraft, which in the 1990s received the Mid-Life Update (MLU) package to bring them up to the capabilities represented by the F-16C/D Block 50/52 variant.
The package included not only repairs but also avionics modification and radar replacement so that, depending on the version, AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles with a range of up to about 100 kilometres could be used.
It is worth noting that the aircraft are additionally modified before being sent to Ukraine to improve their performance. The scope of changes is unknown, but in addition to integration with specialized weaponry such as AGM-88 HARM missiles, ADM-160B MALD decoys, AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, or JDAM-ER bombs intended for Ukraine, the F-16s may have modified AN/APG-66 or AN/APG-68 radars and are equipped with targeting pods like AN/ASQ-213 HTS or similar.
Moreover, the modifications also aim to remove NATO-restricted systems such as the identification friend or foe (IFF) system and the Link-16 tactical information system, which provides encrypted real-time communication with other aircraft.
Preparations for F-16 shipment
Before handing over the aircraft to Ukraine, the work carried out included, for instance, the removal of NATO-restricted systems such as the identification friend or foe (IFF) system and a range of modifications to improve the machines' performance. It is possible that significant improvements were made to the AN/APG-66 and AN/APG-68 radar parameters, or perhaps even the newer AN/APG-83 SABR was installed.
Meanwhile, additional funding will allow the aircraft to be equipped with, among other things, a greater stock of 20 mm ammunition for M61 cannons and Mk 82/83/84 series bombs weighing approximately 230, 450, and 910 kilograms, respectively. These ammunitions form the basis for guided JDAM-ER variants, AGM-65 Maverick anti-tank missiles, AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, or AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles.
