Prime US army officers have stated the plane switch might take years to finish
Ukraine shouldn’t anticipate to obtain American F-16 fighter jets till someday in 2024, a Ukrainian Air Pressure spokesman has stated, noting that Kiev’s “excessive hopes” for the system have been unlikely to be met anytime quickly.
Chatting with reporters on Wednesday, Air Pressure Command consultant Yury Ignat urged the timeline for the arms switch was nonetheless to be determined, however stated Kiev must make do by the tip of the yr.
“Sadly, it’s already clear that we won’t be able to guard Ukraine with F-16s all through the autumn and this winter,” he stated. “There have been excessive hopes for these plane, that these might actually turn out to be a part of the air protection.”
Officers in Kiev have repeatedly requested the F-16 by identify, and whereas some NATO states have agreed to instruct Ukrainian airmen on the system, it stays unclear when the primary switch might happen. Thus far, no nation has made any concrete proposal, and US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers Mark Milley stated final month that it might take years to offer Ukraine with a significant functionality.
“Simply do a fast math drill right here. Ten F-16s are $2 billion,” Milley informed reporters on the time, trying to clarify the delay. “The Russians have a whole lot of fourth- and fifth-generation airframes, so in the event that they’re going to attempt to match the Russians one for one – and even, you understand, two-to-one – you’re speaking about a lot of plane.”
In line with a current report within the Washington Put up, the preliminary batch of Ukrainian pilots educated on the F-16 is not going to be prepared till after the summer time of 2024, with solely six airmen set to finish the primary spherical of instruction. Officers cited by the outlet stated every pilot must take 4 months in English programs earlier than they will even start flight coaching.
Moscow has repeatedly warned towards overseas arms shipments to Kiev, arguing the army assist would solely prolong the battle and do little to discourage its aims. Earlier this yr, the Kremlin stated Western powers would run “colossal dangers” in the event that they determined to provide the F-16, whereas International Minister Sergey Lavrov stated Russia would take into account the plane a nuclear menace because of its capability to hold atomic weapons.
“We are going to regard the actual fact that the Ukrainian armed forces have such methods as a menace from the West within the nuclear sphere,” the diplomat stated.
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