President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine announced on Sunday that the Ukrainian military has received its first batch of F-16 fighter jets. This significant development marks a boost to the country’s defenses, although the current number of jets received may be insufficient to produce an immediate impact on the battlefield.
“F-16s are in Ukraine. We did it,” Mr. Zelensky declared in a video posted on social media, where he is seen at an airbase addressing Ukrainian pilots. The video showed him standing in front of two F-16 jets, with two more flying overhead.
The arrival of the F-16s is a morale booster for Ukrainians who have endured months of slow but steady Russian advances and devastating attacks on the nation’s power grid. Although Mr. Zelensky mentioned that Ukrainian pilots have started using the jets, he did not specify if they had been deployed in combat or how many jets had arrived.
A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that about half a dozen pilots were conducting test flights on an equal number of jets in “uncontested” Ukrainian airspace. The Ukrainian pilots are currently acclimating to the aircraft on a small scale without engaging Russian forces.
Ukraine has high hopes for the F-16s, which are versatile aircraft equipped with advanced radar systems and a variety of weapons. These jets are expected to enhance Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities, where Russia has held the upper hand for much of the past year. The primary aim is to deter Russian pilots from entering Ukrainian airspace to attack frontline troops and cities. The F-16s could also improve Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian missiles, thereby easing the burden on its weakened air defense systems.
However, Ukrainian officials have cautioned that delays in the delivery of the F-16s could diminish their effectiveness on the battlefield, giving Russia time to adapt its tactics. In recent weeks, Russia has targeted Ukrainian airbases in an apparent effort to preemptively limit the use of the F-16s.
The United States has agreed to arm the F-16s with advanced missiles and other weapons, which should enable Ukraine to conduct more long-range strikes behind Russian lines, according to Nico Lange, a military expert and former German defense official. Despite this, a shortage of trained pilots and the limited number of jets will likely constrain their immediate impact.
Western officials indicated earlier this year that as few as six jets might arrive in Ukraine by the summer. Around 20 Ukrainian pilots are expected to be capable of flying the jets by the end of the year. This would allow Ukraine to deploy about 10 F-16s in combat, considering that each aircraft requires at least two pilots.
John F. Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, expressed confidence in the readiness of the planes, telling the Ukrainian edition of Voice of America last week that the planes would be “ready to fly by the end of the summer,” adding, “There’s no reason to doubt that.”
The deployment of the first F-16s comes after more than two years of intense lobbying by Ukraine to acquire the American-made jets. These jets represent a significant upgrade over the Soviet-era aircraft that the Ukrainian Air Force has been using. Initially, the Biden administration resisted Ukraine’s request for F-16s over fears of escalating the conflict. However, about a year ago, the administration reversed its stance, allowing Western allies to transfer the jets to Ukraine. Since then, Western countries have pledged about 80 jets to Kyiv, although the vast majority of them will arrive over the coming years.
The arrival of these F-16s is a significant milestone for Ukraine, symbolizing a new phase in its defense capabilities and providing a much-needed boost to the country’s morale and military strength.
