Members of the Bundestag Defense Committee, including Jan Nolte, indicated Berlin could consider transferring Tornado aircraft to Ukraine. This possibility was reported on the newspaper’s website under the News section.
According to Nolte, the Tornado fleet is aging and not in optimal condition. The idea of handing them over to Ukraine has, for now, been described as a potential red line, but one that could be crossed in the future under certain conditions.
He noted that many politicians hesitate to authorize such transfers because of concerns about triggering an escalation in the war and because Ukraine has yet to demonstrate a clear plan for how to operate the aircraft effectively.
Earlier reports indicated that the Netherlands would deliver the first American F-16 fighter jets to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the second half of 2024. This marked a significant step in Kyiv’s air capability from allied partners.
Netherlands is home to 42 F-16s, which are gradually being replaced by newer F-35s. Leadership in The Hague stated an intent to transfer up to 24 of these jets to Ukraine, while retaining 18 for pilot training and other purposes.
There have also been recent developments concerning a separate incident: an F-16 fighter jet crashed in Greece, with the pilot successfully ejecting and surviving. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing to determine the exact causes and contributing factors.
Earlier projections had suggested that the initial wave of fighter jet deliveries could begin as early as 2025, contingent on political and logistical considerations. [citation: Berlin daily report; military observers]