The United States is allowing European countries to train Ukrainians on F-16 fighter jets. This was announced by the administration of US President Joe Biden.
“The President has given the green light, and we will allow, support, facilitate and actually provide the necessary tools for Ukrainians to start training on F-16s as soon as the Europeans are ready,” said National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
The decision marks a sharp reversal in the position of President Joe Biden, who earlier this year considered it inappropriate to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets. However, one of the main challenges facing the Ukrainian military in its counter-offensive is Russian air superiority, which is making it difficult to advance.
In May, Joe Biden informed the G7 leaders that the United States would support joint efforts with allies and partners to train Ukrainian pilots in fourth-generation aircraft, including the F-16. This American-made aircraft is air-to-air refuelled and is compatible with most NATO weapons already in service in Ukraine, with upgrades making it more advanced than any aircraft currently in service in Ukraine.
Jake Sullivan noted that European allies have said they need a few more weeks to prepare training sites and that the United States will adhere to any schedule set by its partners. “The United States will not delay the F-16 training process,” he added.
Recently, a group of 11 countries formed a coalition and signed a memorandum on the conditions for training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. According to Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, the training programme will involve Ukrainian pilots, technicians and support staff, and there is a possibility that the programme may include training on other types of fighter jets. The coalition reportedly includes Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
It’s official: a coalition for F-16 training of the Ukrainian Air Force has been formed!
Today, 11 partner states + Ukraine signed a Memorandum outlining the terms. I’m especially grateful to Denmark and the Netherlands for their outstanding leadership in this process.… pic.twitter.com/ea1oxljX9I— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) July 11, 2023
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