The report indicated that the initial F-16 fighter jets could reach Ukraine by June 2024, according to Foreign Policy.
“I think we will see them in Ukraine in June,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas was quoted as saying by FP.
A European official, speaking to FP on background, shared a similar outlook, reinforcing the expectation that F-16s would join Ukrainian forces soon.
The text notes that Ukrainian officials aim to have 12 pilots ready for combat training in the United States by the end of the current fiscal year, which ends in September of the editor’s note.
Alexey Danilov, a former secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, stated that Ukraine is actively preparing the infrastructure necessary for F-16 operations. He emphasized strong partner support and said that while specific facilities could not be disclosed, the effort is proceeding on schedule as part of a comprehensive plan.
Sergei Naev, the commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, indicated that missiles with a range between 300 and 500 kilometers could be deployed with F-16 aircraft to support operations against targets in Ukraine.
Given that the F-16 serves as a versatile platform capable of carrying a wide array of weapons, the exact missile types were not specified in the discussion.
Prior to these developments, Russia had already acknowledged Ukraine’s intention to acquire the latest warplanes from Turkey, highlighting regional security dynamics and the ongoing discussions around military modernization.