The US will lead the “functionality coalition” to develop Ukraine’s air drive, together with the coaching of Ukrainian pilots on flying F-16 fighter jets, Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin mentioned on Wednesday.
“I’m proud to announce that the USA will step up once more to assist lead the coalition of nations working with Ukraine to develop its Air Pressure,” Austin informed reporters in Brussels, Belgium. He added that the US would “coordinate intently with Ukraine and different companions with a concentrate on creating Ukraine’s F-16 fighter plane functionality.”
This exhibits “American management issues,” Austin mentioned.
The pinnacle of the Pentagon did observe that Denmark and the Netherlands would “be co-leading this coalition along with us,” naming the international locations that truly stood up the F-16 initiative in early July, with out Washington.
As soon as the US got here on board, US Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan mentioned that Ukraine would not get the jets from the Pentagon, however “possible from European international locations which have extra F-16 provides.”
After many delays, the US gave Denmark and the Netherlands permission to donate F-16s to Kiev in August. A complete of 11 international locations have dedicated to coaching Ukrainian pilots. The US has promised to start out courses on the Morris Air Nationwide Guard Base in Arizona later this month, as soon as the candidates go an English examination.
The F-16 was designed within the Nineteen Seventies by Normal Dynamics, and is at present in restricted manufacturing by Lockheed Martin. Ukraine requested for them after working out of the MiG-29 fighters donated by Slovakia and Poland, within the heavy combating towards Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that if F-16s are despatched to Ukraine, they “will burn” similar to different Western {hardware} provided to Kiev. International Minister Sergey Lavrov has described the potential deliveries as an escalatory transfer, noting that the jets can carry nuclear weapons.
In accordance with Austin, the earliest Kiev can count on to obtain the Danish and Dutch jets is “subsequent spring.” Belgium has additionally promised to donate a few of its F-16s to Ukraine by 2025, assuming it may get permission from the US and whichever authorities wins the June 2024 election.
