The Pentagon expects that this year Ukraine will receive the first F-16 fighters, as well as the corresponding infrastructure and spare parts.
What is known about Ukraine receiving the first F-16s
This year, Ukraine will receive the first F-16 fighters and the aircraft's corresponding infrastructure and spare parts.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Celeste Wallander stated this.
We are working as a coalition on the F-16 program and we are committed to ensuring the initial operational readiness of Ukraine with its F-16 program in 2024, she said.
According to a Pentagon spokeswoman, this program covers pilot training, platforms, technician training, spare parts and ammunition.
F-16 for Ukraine
The international coalition regarding the training of Ukrainian aviators on F-16 aircraft, and in particular the transfer of these fighters to our country, included several NATO member states and partners such as Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Canada, Poland, Romania, United States of America, Czech Republic, France and Sweden.
Recently, it became officially known that the first group of Ukrainian pilots completed the primary training program in Britain and began training on F-16 fighters in Denmark.
On December 22, 2023, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, said that the country's government had decided to prepare the first 18 F-16 fighters for transfer to Ukraine.
It also became known that Ukraine is preparing airfield infrastructure to receive Western fighter jets.
