[1/2] Norwegian Air Force F-16 fighters (front) and Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighters patrol over the Baltics during a NATO air policing mission from Zokniai air base near Siauliai, Lithuania, May 20, 2015.
REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOSLO, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Norway will donate U.S.-made F-16 combat aircraft to Ukraine, the Norwegian prime minister announced during a visit to Kyiv on Thursday, joining an effort led by the Netherlands and Denmark.
F-16s have been on Ukraine's wish list for a long time because of their destructive power and global availability.
"We are planning to donate Norwegian F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, and will provide further details about the donation, numbers and time frame for delivery, in due course," Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement.
"The donation of these F-16 jets will significantly strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities," Norway's Defence Minister Bjoern Arild Gram said in the statement.
Persons:
Ints, Jonas Gahr Stoere, Stoere, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Bjoern Arild Gram, Terje Solsvik, Nora Buli, Mark Heinrich, Jonathan Oatis
Organizations:
Norwegian Air Force, Italian Air Force Eurofighter, NATO, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Norway's, Romania, U.S . Air Force, Thomson
Locations:
Siauliai, Lithuania, Rights OSLO, Norway, Ukraine, Norwegian, Kyiv, Netherlands, Denmark