Ukraine has received its first F-16 fighter jets from the West, European politicians and news agencies have reported.
The delivery of an unknown number of the advanced military aircraft came with Russia continuing to make territorial gains in the conflict with the country.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the jets originated from unnamed “NATO allies”, with Ukraine’s Government said to be unwilling to admit they had received them.
Further reporting from The Times indicated that six of the fourth-generation fighters had been sent from the Netherlands and that Kyiv was set to receive more from Denmark imminently.
Officials from Ukraine and the US were said to have confirmed the deliveries in off-the-record statements.
“F-16s in Ukraine. Another impossible thing turned out to be totally possible,” Lithuanian foreign affairs minister Gabrielius Landsbergis wrote online regarding the deliveries.
Reports indicated that the jets are equipped with 20mm cannons — likely to be M61 Vulcan Gatling-style guns — with guided bombs, anti-radar missiles and medium-range air-to-air missiles also said to be delivered alongside the aircraft.
They are also to be retrofitted with advanced radar systems by manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
The European Commission has been pressured to detail the “carbon footprint of fighter jets” sent by European Union Member States to Ukraine. https://t.co/sWW5xOeE9u
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) November 22, 2023
It is currently unknown when their aircraft will be able to enter service.
The Times cited difficulties with training Ukraine’s fighter pilots on the planes as one reason the fighters could be delayed in going into service. Other issues included the training of Ukrainian ground crew, finding suitable Ukrainian airfields to take off from and land the advanced jets, as well as establishing suitable supply chains for maintenance.
Questions also remained as to how many of the planes Ukraine will be able to get into the air at all. Of the 300 fighter jets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had been asking for, only about 80 F-16s have been promised. Of this number, many are set to be cannibalised for parts.
Despite initial excitement surrounding the deliveries, the fighters are no longer believed to have the ability to turn the tide of the Ukraine war, with Kyiv struggling to maintain its defensive lines amid Russia’s current slow advance.
According to a report by The New York Times, Russian territory gains in the Donetsk regions were particularly worrying for Ukrainian commanders, with one military journalist on the ground having described the situation as “critical”.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened to halt diesel deliveries to Ukraine if Kyiv does not resume the transit of oil via Ukraine to Slovakia from Russian energy giant Lukoil. https://t.co/jyZAxdyrhc
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) July 30, 2024
