Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander announced plans for the West to deliver its first F-16 fighter jets and supporting equipment to Ukraine in 2024.
In a press conference following a regular meeting of the contact group formed by the West to coordinate the supply of weapons and military equipment to Kyiv, Wallander stated: “We are working as a coalition on AI.”
“We are aiming to provide an initial operating capability for Ukraine with its F-16 program in 2024, which would entail trained pilots, the platforms, but in addition, trained maintainers and sustainers, infrastructure, and spare parts, ammunition. “
The British Ministry of Defense recently reported the completion of training for the first batch of Ukrainian pilots on American F-16 fighters in Denmark, under the supervision of the British Royal Air Force.
The Netherlands and Denmark were the first to agree to supply Ukraine with F-16 jets. The White House confirmed that Ukraine would receive fighter aircraft from third countries once their pilots have completed training.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the Russian military would target the F-16s in Ukraine, stating that they would “burn” and considering strikes on their bases in the countries they may originate from.
He suggested that they would meet the same fate as the German Leopard tanks, American Bradley armored vehicles, and other Western weapons in Ukraine.
