19 minutes agoBiden supports training of Ukrainian pilots for F-16 fighter aircraft
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)US President Joe Biden briefed the leaders of 6 other more industrialized countries on Friday that Washington supports the joint effort with Allies to train Ukrainian pilots for F-16 combat aircraft. The news was confirmed by a senior American administration official on condition of anonymity. Approval by the United States [...]
The news was confirmed by a senior American administration official on condition of anonymity.
The approval by the United States is of key importance as Kiev seeks to boost its airpower against Russia's forces.
Training for US-made aircraft will take place in Europe and will take months to complete, the official said.
The timeline for training and delivery of F-16s is estimated to be at least 18 months.
“As training takes place over the next few months, the coalition of countries participating in this effort will decide when to secure the aircraft, how much we will provide, and who will provide them”, Said the official.
The official did not say which countries would participate in the effort. The United States hopes to begin training in the coming weeks, the official added.
Ukraine is looking for aircraft produced by the American company “Lockheed Martin”, as it continues its progress against Russian invading troops still ahead of an expected counteroffensive during the spring.
Ukraine, which has no aircraft designed from the West, says F-16s are much more effective than the currently Soviet-era MiG-29 aircraft. Poland and Slovakia have delivered 27 MG-29s to complete Ukraine's current fleet.
Western governments have been cautious with the amount of donated equipment in order to maintain their protective skills. They have also avoided sending any long-range action device that could hit deep on Russian territory and give Moscow a reason to escalate war.
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky received pledges this week from Britain and the Netherlands to help create a “coalation for aircraft”, though leaders from the two countries did not say they would send planes.
