The United States has given the Netherlands and Denmark permission to transfer sophisticated F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, providing a significant assist to Kyiv in its conflict with Russia.
Since the war began 18 months ago, Ukraine has been appealing for F-16s to give it a fighting advantage. It began a long-awaited counteroffensive against the Kremlin’s forces this summer, leaving its men vulnerable to Russian aviation and artillery.
Though delivery is likely to take months, Washington believes the F-16s, like the upgraded US Abrams tanks, will be critical to Ukraine’s long-term security.
Ukraine has relied on older aircraft, including Russian-made MiG-29 and Sukhoi fighters. F-16s have more advanced technology and targeting capability. They are also more adaptable.
The news was welcomed by helicopter pilots in eastern Ukraine. They claimed that while Russia had a clear edge in the sky, the advent of stronger fighter jets might radically tip the balance of power in Kyiv’s favor.
According to Capt. Yevgen Rakita, a spokesman for the 18th Army Aviation Brigade, Ukraine’s decades-old Soviet-era planes are vulnerable to air-to-air missile assaults from Russian fighter jets. “A modern war cannot be won without aviation,” he asserted.
It was uncertain how long it would take for the first Ukrainian pilots to be qualified to fly F-16s. An 11-nation coalition began training last month, and officials have stated that pilots should be ready by early 2024.
Kyiv has been pressing hard for US-made jets since last year, but Washington maintains severe limits on allies reselling or transferring US-made military equipment.
Ukraine’s Western partners have been sluggish to offer Kyiv the military assistance it has asked.
President Joe Biden’s authorisation in May for allies to train Ukrainian forces on how to handle the airplanes, and eventually to give the jets themselves, was preceded by months of deliberation in Washington, amid concerns that the move might exacerbate relations with Russia.
A senior Ukrainian official stated in July that dozens of the aircraft were needed to support offensive ground operations in the south, where Kyiv wants to drive out Russian forces.
“We need 60 to 80 F-16 planes to close the skies effectively, especially near the front,” Mykhailo Podolyak, a top advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, warned.
Source: Arab News
