Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine needs about 160 F-16 fighter jets to prevent Russian pilots from dominating its airspace. He said this in an interview with the Portuguese television channel. RTP.
“We need a total of around 160 fighter jets to have an air force strong enough not to give Russia the opportunity to dominate the airspace,” he said.
Former Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov declarationHe said that Ukrainian pilots, promised by the West, will be able to use F-16 warplanes for the first time in the spring of 2024.
He reminded that Ukrainian pilots, engineers and technicians started training in the courses. At the same time, the Ukrainian Air Force will prepare the infrastructure of the aircraft. According to the head of the military department, this process could take at least six months.
Reznikov considered the use of fighters a “major turning point” in the conflict. The publication noted that air superiority now belongs to Russia.
Formerly Zelensky saidIt prevents Ukraine from transferring hostilities to the territory of the Russian Federation.