The Air Force revealed whether Ukraine will receive American F-15 and F-16 fighters
The other day the U.S. House of Representatives The Ukrainian Armed Forces are one step closer to getting American F-15 and F-16 aircraft: the U.S. will allocate $100 million of the defense budget for the training of Ukrainian pilots, and it includes $100 million for a program to train Ukrainian pilots and familiarize ground personnel with American F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft. Does this mean that Ukraine will get these fighter jets - commented Air Force Command spokesman Yuriy Ignat.
What is known?
According to him, the US Congress did introduce a bill to train Ukrainian pilots to work on F-15 and F-16 fighters, but "this is also not a quick process in American politics, a certain procedure must take place."
"Congressman Kinzinger was the first to publish [information about] this visit by the pilots, where they could talk informally. The pilots talked about the needs of the air force, namely the air force, to cover the skies and so that these planes could help us liberate the occupied territories. Since the congressman in question is himself a military pilot, they spoke virtually the same language. And we hope that there will be understanding in the American society and American politicians and [they will make] the only right decision to allocate these aircraft platforms to Ukraine," noted Ignat.
In the meantime, Ukraine continues negotiations with partner countries. "At all levels of government, negotiations are underway with our partners to implement everything - first of all, it's air defense, which we just talked to you about. Pilot training and getting air platforms (F-15, F-16 or F-18 planes) - this will already be decided, probably in more closed circles," stressed the speaker of the Armed Forces.
At the same time, military expert Oleg Zhdanov believes that there is a prospect of receiving these aircraft, but there are several "buts. Firstly, it is not known yet who can provide these fighters. Secondly, the F-16s are very sensitive when landing and need a good runway of a certain size. Third, it takes a pilot and a team of about 20 people to maintain the fighter. That's a whole logistical chain of technicians to accompany one pilot and one aircraft. But Zhdanov says that the planes will most likely be handed over to us, but "this is not the perspective of today but, say, of the next six months.
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