The United States has confirmed that it will allow allies to send American-made F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv once Ukrainian pilots are trained to operate them. However, the approvals will not come for months due to the requirement for f-16s-to-ukraine.html” title=”U.S. Official Announces Allies' Permission to Send F-16s to Ukraine”>full pilot training.
Experts say that Ukraine’s counteroffensive, which began two months ago, has a chance of succeeding without the fighter jets, but it will be more challenging.
Ukraine’s Air Force spokesman, Yuriy Ihnat, stated that it had become clear that the country would not be able to operate or receive F-16 fighter jets this fall or winter, confirming that the planes will not play a role in the counteroffensive.
He said, “We had high hopes for this aircraft.”
The U.S. decision was expected since May when President Biden eased his resistance to NATO allies’ efforts to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and provide the jets to Ukraine. The official who confirmed the U.S. shift spoke on condition of anonymity.
According to a Pentagon spokesman, some of the pilot training may now take place in the United States.
Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, stated, “The U.S. is prepared to support the training effort in coordination with the coalition, and is willing to host training for Ukrainian pilots within the U.S. if the capacity is reached in Europe.”
Ukraine has Soviet-era MIG and Sukhoi fighter jets but has long argued that F-16s could give it air superiority, which neither side has decisively achieved since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The U.S. transfer approvals, when they come, are expected to go to Denmark and the Netherlands, which are leading a coalition to train the pilots. The U.S. Air Force estimated that full training could take four to six months, while other estimates are longer. Additionally, training on how to maintain the jets will also be necessary.
American officials have stated that Ukraine has identified only eight combat pilots who speak English well enough to start training, which is fewer than necessary for a single squadron. About 20 others are being sent to Britain this month to learn English.
The F-16, or Fighting Falcon, is used by militaries in many countries for air-to-air combat and air-to-ground strikes. It is built by the American defense contractor Lockheed Martin and manufactured in Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. All four countries have signaled their willingness to transfer the planes to Kyiv, according to a senior Ukrainian official.
In May, the leaders of Britain and the Netherlands announced…
2023-08-18 01:48:10
Link from www.nytimes.com