President Joe Biden has approved plans to train Ukrainian pilots on American-made F-16 fighter jets, Sky News reports.
Unidentified sources said the US leader announced he had approved the exercise, which is likely to take place in Europe in the coming months.
Biden told G7 leaders that a decision on when, how many and who will provide Ukraine with fourth-generation fighter jets for combat use will be made in the coming months while the training continues.
The highly maneuverable F-16 fighter is versatile and can reach speeds of over 1,200 km/h.
According to the US, it can find targets in all weather conditions and detect aircraft flying at low frequencies.
Volodymyr Zelenskyi has consistently called for Western fighter jets to bolster his country’s defenses, but has so far faced US skepticism.
Under export licensing rules, the US had to approve any allied efforts to train Ukrainian pilots.
NATO members Poland and Slovakia recently began transferring MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine as Kyiv prepares for a counteroffensive to liberate Russian-occupied territories.
Link:
- F-16s are four to five times more effective than Soviet ones – the Ukrainian commander
- Follow the latest events of the 450th day of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HOTNEWS.RO.
Source: Hot News
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