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Dutch open to supplying Ukraine with F-16 fighters; update on GLSDB missiles [1]

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Date: 2023-01-20

The Dutch government has really stepped up lately.

x The Dutch Cabinet will look into supplying F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine if the Kyiv asks for it. During a parliamentary debate on Thursday, Minister Wopke Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs said the Cabinet would look at such a request with an “open mind.”https://t.co/Hfrdcn86M8 pic.twitter.com/Y2aBLRR2fk — Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) January 20, 2023

Before anyone gets too excited, just giving Ukraine F-16s isn’t enough. There is a long training curve, not just for pilots but for repair crews. And there will have to be a steady supply of spare parts and munitions.

But it’s the first step. And The Netherlands is also willing to put up the money for other European nations to transfer Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

The Dutch Cabinet will look into supplying F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine if the Kyiv government asks for it. During a parliamentary debate on Thursday, Minister Wopke Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs said the Cabinet would look at such a request with an “open mind.” In Davos, Minister Kajsa Ollongren of Defense also said that the Netherlands is willing to help pay for modern Leopard 2 tanks that other countries send to Ukraine. “That is certainly something we are willing to do,” she told Bloomberg. Hoekstra said there are “no taboos” for the delivery of regular equipment. Sjoerd Sjoerdsma (D66) asked the Cabinet to supply F16s and infantry fighting vehicles to the Ukrainian armed forces. Many fear that Russia will launch another major offensive in the coming months.

Speaking of stepping up, Denmark also deserves credit.

x Denmark is going to donate its entire Caesar SPG arsenal. 19 pieces will be transferred to Ukraine.



Incredible commitment! #Denmark #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/D3XRvtUmXO — (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) January 19, 2023

Meanwhile, training on the Leopard tanks is set to begin.

x The countries that are armed with the Leopard-2 have agreed that they can start training courses for Ukrainian tank crews to master the Leopard-2. Ukrainian Defense Minister Reznikov said this in an exclusive comment to https://t.co/7UknN31GLBhttps://t.co/pDRzmm0vwx — Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) January 20, 2023

If you were the manufacturer of German leopard tanks, would you rather that Ukraine — which for many decades to come will no doubt be one of the most heavily armed European countries — become accustomed to and trained on your tanks or the Americans’ tanks?

Germany would do so much good, not just for Ukraine, but also for itself by send Leopards.

x Following the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Ramstein, Germany announced a forthcoming €1bn military aid package for Ukraine. The package includes weaponry as well as personnel training. Germany's total military assistance will exceed €3.3bn. https://t.co/V1cxlGkfIk pic.twitter.com/16GfcvnnWT — Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 20, 2023

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Here’s an update on providing Ukraine with the GLSDB missile with a range of 150km and accuracy to within the width of a car tire. Supposedly GLSDB will get a new launcher, which goes against the fact that one of the great things about this system is that it can be launched from a HIMARS or M270 launcher.

Sounds like procurement politics at work here jacking up the cost.

x Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb wasn’t ready to go in latest UA aid package. GMLRS is Army/Lockheed program & SDB Air Force/Boeing. It’s odd Army isn’t taking the leading oar on GLSDB; what if it won’t allow use of its rockets & launchers so AF has to build them from scratch? pic.twitter.com/Xb3clCA9qk — Carlos Mucha (@mucha_carlos) January 20, 2023

x A quick Twitter search for Nordic Shelter revealed this, presumably USAF is first customer. I think Congress is going to lose its shit if it turns out Air Force is buying new launchers from somewhere— err, Nordic— when the Army has already bought hundreds of GMLRS launchers. pic.twitter.com/90pyXCzKah — Carlos Mucha (@mucha_carlos) January 20, 2023

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It’s hard to believe they still do this.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/1/20/2148309/-Dutch-open-to-supplying-Ukraine-with-F-16-fighters

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