America has given its approval for the Netherlands and Denmark to deliver F-16s to Ukraine, officials in Washington and Europe said Friday, in a significant gain for Kyiv, although the fighter jets are unlikely to affect the war any time soon.
It was not immediately clear when the primary F-16s might enter the conflict, but Ukrainian pilots will first should undertake a minimum of six months of coaching on the aircraft, in accordance with officials.
Ukraine has long pleaded for the subtle fighter to provide it a combat edge. It recently launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive against the Kremlin’s forces without air cover, placing its troops on the mercy of Russian aviation and artillery.
Even so, Air Force Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. air forces in Europe and Africa, told reporters in Washington he didn’t expect the F-16s to be a game-changer for Ukraine. Getting F-16 squadrons ready for battle could take “4 or five years,” he said.
But in eastern Ukraine, attack helicopter pilots welcomed the news. They said Russia has a transparent advantage within the skies, however the introduction of higher fighter jets could dramatically shift the balance of power Kyiv’s way.
Ukrainian air forces supporting infantry are using decades-old Soviet-era planes, that are vulnerable to air-to-air missile attacks from Russian fighter jets, Capt. Yevgen Rakita, a spokesman for the 18th Army Aviation Brigade, told The Associated Press.
“A contemporary war can’t be won without aviation” capabilities, Rakita said.
In making the choice on F-16 deliveries, Washington goals to make sure warplanes will be provided to Ukraine as soon as its pilots complete training, in accordance with a U.S. administration official who was not authorized to comment and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken sent a letter to his Dutch and Danish counterparts earlier this week, offering formal assurance that the U.S. would fast-track approval of all requests from third parties to transfer F-16s to Ukraine.
Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said Friday that the training of Ukrainian pilots is starting this month.
A coalition of 11 Western countries — the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the UK — pledged in July to coach Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s.
Denmark will hand over a few of its F-16s only after receiving its recent F-35 jet fighters. The primary 4 F-35s are as a consequence of be delivered on Oct. 1.
Washington’s blessing for the plane donations to other countries is required since the aircraft are made in america.
Ukraine’s Western allies have at times moved slowly on granting Kyiv the military support it has requested.
President Joe Biden’s authorization last May for allies to coach Ukrainian forces on how you can operate the warplanes, and eventually to offer the aircraft themselves, was preceded by months of debate in Washington and quiet talks with allies, officials said.
The administration had concerns that the move might escalate tensions with Russia. Also, U.S. officials argued that learning to fly and logistically support the advanced F-16 could be difficult.
Though delivery is probably going months away, Washington says the F-16s — just like the advanced U.S. Abrams tanks — will probably be crucial for Ukraine’s long-term security.
Ukraine has been counting on older aircraft, corresponding to Russian-made MiG-29 and Sukhoi jets. F-16s have newer technology and targeting capabilities. Also they are more versatile, experts say.
In other developments:
— Russian air defenses stopped drone attacks on central Moscow and on the country’s ships within the Black Sea, officials said Friday, blaming the attempted strikes on Ukraine. It was impossible to confirm the claims.
— A Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship that set sail this week along a short lived Black Sea corridor established by Ukraine for merchant shipping safely reached the coast of Istanbul on Friday. The voyage was closely watched to see whether the Russian navy would allow the Joseph Schulte container vessel to pass unmolested.
