US plans to provide F-16 fighter weapons to Ukraine – WSJ
Photo: RAF
The US is planning to supply Ukraine with missiles and other weapons for their F-16 fighter jets, set to be delivered to Ukraine's armed forces later this summer.
The Wall Street Journal reports this.
It is worth mentioning that Denmark and the Netherlands plan to hand over F-16s to Ukraine in the near future, along with upcoming fighter deliveries from Belgium and Norway. However, the matter of arming these aircraft has yet to be resolved.
As Rubryka previously reported, Kyiv hopes to receive up to 20 Western F-16 fighter jets by the end of 2024. At the same time, NATO has concerns about the logistics difficulties associated with supporting these aircraft and the lack of necessary airstrips in Ukraine.
An unnamed senior US official told the WSJ that despite the Pentagon's limited stockpile, Washington decided to transfer to Ukraine:
- air-to-ground ammunition,
- precision targeting kits for bombs,
- modern air-to-air missiles.
The number of weapons planned to be delivered will be sufficient to meet Ukraine's most urgent needs.
"We are sure that we will be able to supply all this, at least in the critical volumes they need," the journalists' interlocutor clarified.
Ukraine will receive the following types of weapons from the United States:
- AGM-88 HARM air-to-surface missiles;
- Extended-range versions of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits that turn unguided bombs into "smart" weapons;
- Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB);
- AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles;
- AIM-9X short-range air-to-air missiles.
It was also clarified that European countries can allocate funds to buy additional weapons for "Ukrainian" F-16s from the USA.
It is worth noting that the US will limit Ukraine's use of missiles for the F-16, similarly to other transferred weapons. This means that Ukrainian defenders will be able to use them for strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation only in response to attacks from the other side of the border.
Moreover, Ukraine is also seeking F-16 fighter jets directly from the USA, but the largest partner and operator of these aircraft has not yet made any relevant statements.
In his turn, President Zelensky said that Ukraine needs at least 128 F-16 fighter jets to create effective competition in the sky against the aggressor of the Russian Federation.
For reference:
It is worth adding that on July 29, the United States allocated Ukraine another package of military aid worth 200 million dollars. The support will strengthen Ukrainian air defense.
Earlier this month, the US already allocated a $225 million security aid package to Ukraine. In particular, Washington promised one Patriot battery, shells for NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems, ammunition for HIMARS systems, and artillery shells.
In addition, the Office of the Inspector General of the Pentagon has launched a website where Americans can find out how the United States controls weapons and equipment provided to Ukraine as part of military aid.
