During a press conference following a meeting of the Western contact group on arms supplies to the Ukrainian conflict zone, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) will receive F-16 fighter bombers no earlier than spring 2024. Austin mentioned that US officials had previously made predictions regarding the delivery of these aircraft to Kyiv, stating that “it will take months” to transfer them to the UAF. “The earliest we will be able to see the first aircraft is next spring,” clarified Austin, referring to the deployment of the F-16s to the combat zone.
Furthermore, Austin revealed that Ukrainian pilots are currently undergoing training on how to operate the fighter jets. The United States, along with several European countries, organized these training sessions, as emphasized by the American Defense Secretary.
In addition, during the press conference, Austin discussed the formation of several Western country coalitions to provide assistance to the Ukrainian authorities. The United States will lead the coalition for the development of the Ukrainian Air Force, with one of the main objectives being the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to the country’s military, according to Austin.
Earlier, the United States announced the allocation of a new aid package worth $200 million to Ukraine.
