The United States has announced that it will allow its Western allies to supply Ukraine with advanced fighter jets, including American-made F-16s, which is seen as a significant boost for Kyiv. National security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that President Joe Biden informed his G7 counterparts of the decision during the bloc’s summit in Japan.
In addition to the fighter jets, US troops will provide training to Ukrainian pilots for their operation. Russia has expressed its opposition, warning that countries supplying F-16s to Ukraine would face significant risks. However, the US and its allies are committed to supporting Ukraine’s self-defense and have been focused on providing weapons, systems, and training for offensive operations.
While it is increasingly likely that Ukraine will receive the fighter jets, no government has confirmed sending them yet. The move is seen as a historic decision by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who believes it will greatly enhance Ukraine’s air capabilities. The decision to provide fighter jets had been met with skepticism by the US, which had previously focused on land-based military support for Ukraine.
Some NATO members expressed concerns about escalating the conflict, potentially leading to a direct confrontation with Russia. However, the US has now decided to allow the supply of advanced fighter jets to Ukraine.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Twitter that the UK, along with the USA, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, will collaborate to provide Ukraine with the combat air capability it requires. Although the UK does not possess F-16s in its air force, it will contribute to the effort by establishing a flight school to train Ukrainian pilots. Denmark has also pledged support for pilot training but has not confirmed whether it will send jets to Ukraine. Denmark’s air force currently operates 40 F-16s, with approximately 30 of them operational. Earlier, Sunak and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had expressed their intention to form an international coalition to assist Ukraine with fighter jet support. French President Emmanuel Macron offered to establish a flight school but stated that France would not supply jets.
Opposition to sending fighter jets to Ukraine has focused on concerns about maintenance, as F-16s require extensive maintenance after each flight, according to former NATO official Dr. Jamie Shea. Ukraine initially had around 120 combat-capable aircraft, consisting mainly of aging Soviet-era MiG-29s and Su-27s, but officials claim that they need up to 200 jets to match Russia’s air power, which is estimated to be five or six times greater than Ukraine’s. President Volodymyr Zelensky has specifically requested F-16s from allies. While the F-16 is an older aircraft compared to the more advanced F-35, it is still widely used and can travel at twice the speed of sound, engaging targets in the air and on the ground. Earlier this year, some Eastern European countries sent Soviet-era MiG fighter jets to Ukraine.
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