Norway boosts Ukraine's air power with $119m F‑16 upgrade
Norway has announced an additional support package valued at $119 million and promised to deliver the first 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 have decided to supply F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. Recently, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense stated that the first aircraft would arrive in Ukraine this year and allocated an additional $118.8 million to purchase weapons and spare parts.
Oslo declared a total transfer of 22 aircraft, 12 of which will be operational, while the remaining 10 will 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 align their capabilities with the F-16C/D Block 50/52 variant.
The package included not only repairs but also avionics modification and radar replacement, enabling the use of missiles such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM, which, depending on the version, can reach up to about 62 miles.
It's worth noting that the aircraft are additionally modified before being sent to Ukraine to improve their performance. The specific changes are not known, 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 also 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
The work carried out before handing over the aircraft to Ukraine included, notably, the removal of NATO-restricted systems such as the identification friend or foe (IFF) system and a range of modifications to enhance 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 20mm ammunition for M61 cannons and Mk 82/83/84 series bombs weighing approximately 500, 1,000, and 2,000 pounds, respectively, which 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.
