The US has authorized F-16 fighter jets to be sent from Denmark and the Netherlands to Ukraine to defend against Russia once pilot training is complete.
“I am writing to express the full support of the United States for both the transfer of F-16 fighters to Ukraine and the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors,” US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken wrote in a letter. to its Danish and Dutch counterparts.
He added that “it is of utmost importance that Ukraine can defend itself against the continued Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty.” He emphasized that approval of applications from third countries will enable Ukraine “to fully exploit its new capabilities once the first batch of pilots has completed training”.
Denmark and the Netherlands, NATO members, are leading international efforts to train pilots, support personnel and aircraft maintenance to eventually enable Ukraine to procure F-16s for use in the war against Russia.
US: Ukraine will receive F-16 fighters by the end of this year
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in late July that Ukraine would receive the F-16 fighter jets before the end of the year. At the same time, he determined that the purchase of the aircraft would not significantly change the situation on the battlefield and that Kiev especially needed more artillery ammunition.
Earlier, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Joe Biden “gave the green light” to allow European countries to begin long-awaited training of Ukrainian pilots in the use of F-16 fighters.
However, export restrictions mean that the US still has to “formally approve the transfer of related training materials, such as manuals and flight simulators,” notes Politico.
Sources of the portal believe that while Ukrainian pilots will fly the F-16 by the end of 2023, the “real F-16 in Ukrainian colors” will not appear until spring 2024.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
