Ukrainian pilots have commenced operations with F-16 fighter jets, marking the arrival of the US-made aircraft 29 months after Russia’s invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced yesterday. The long-awaited jets, which Kyiv has persistently lobbied for, represent a significant enhancement to Ukraine’s military capabilities.
Zelensky made the announcement during a meeting with military pilots at an undisclosed air base, where he stood beside two of the F-16s, with two more flying overhead. “F-16s are in Ukraine. We did it. I am proud of our guys who are mastering these jets and have already started using them for our country,” he said.
Ukraine’s top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, welcomed the jets’ arrival and expressed gratitude to the president and other officials for their relentless efforts to secure them. He emphasized that the F-16s would save Ukrainian soldiers’ lives and bolster the country’s defense. “This means that more of the occupiers will be destroyed,” Syrskyi stated on Facebook. “It means a greater number of downed missiles and aircraft used by the Russian criminals to attack Ukrainian cities.”
The arrival of the F-16s marks a pivotal moment for Ukraine, although the exact number of jets and their immediate impact on the battlefield remain uncertain. Russia has vowed to target and shoot down the jets, adding another layer of complexity to their deployment.
Built by Lockheed Martin, the F-16s have been a long-standing item on Ukraine’s military wish list due to their advanced capabilities and widespread availability. Equipped with a 20mm cannon and capable of carrying bombs, rockets, and missiles, these jets are a formidable addition to Ukraine’s arsenal.
Zelensky acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting that Ukraine still lacks sufficient trained pilots and enough jets. “The positive thing is that we are expecting additional F-16s… many guys are now training,” he said, stressing the need for expanded training programs for both pilots and engineering teams.
Previously, Ukraine has relied on an aging fleet of Soviet-era warplanes, which have been outmatched by Russia’s more advanced and numerous aircraft. Russia has leveraged its air superiority to conduct long-range missile strikes and support ground forces with guided bombs.
“This is the new stage of development of the air force of Ukraine’s armed forces,” Zelensky said. “We did a lot for Ukrainian forces to transition to a new aviation standard, the Western combat aviation,” he added, highlighting the extensive diplomatic efforts and numerous meetings that led to acquiring the F-16s.
Zelensky also expressed hopes to engage neighboring NATO countries in intercepting Russian missiles through discussions at the Ukraine-NATO Council platform. “This is another tool, and I want to try it, so that NATO countries can talk to Ukraine about the possibility of a small coalition of neighboring countries shooting down enemy missiles,” he said. Despite potential difficulties, Zelensky remains committed to exploring all options to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
