Ukraine to receive 42 US fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters after pilot training

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited the Netherlands. The topic of the visit was fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets, which Ukraine needs.

Here's What We Know

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has confirmed that the Ukrainian Air Force will receive F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters from the Netherlands and Denmark. The deliveries were approved by the US State Department earlier this week.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Twitter that an agreement had been reached on the number of fighter jets to be transferred to Ukraine. Thus, after training pilots and technical staff, Ukraine will receive 42 aircraft of the fourth generation.

Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, commander of the Air Force, said earlier that two pilots will be able to master the F-16 Fighting Falcon in four months, focusing not on piloting but on the use of weapons. Training has already begun.

Ukraine has begun preparing the infrastructure for the F-16s to arrive in the country. One aircraft was previously able to visit Ukraine and land. Now experts must improve runways and create additional defensive fortifications at airfields.