KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday said that Ukrainian pilots have started flying F-16s for operations within the country confirming the long-awaited arrival of the US-manufactured fighter jets more than 29 months after the Russia war started.
“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,” Zelensky said at a location that authorities did not disclose for security reasons.
The arrival of the jets is a major milestone for Ukraine after many months of wait, though it remains unclear how many fighter jets are available. Russia has been targeting military bases in Ukraine that may have F-16s and vowed to shoot them down so they will not impact the conflict.
Ukraine has long been eyeing F-16 fighter jets, built by Lockheed Martin, because of their destructive ability. These jets are equipped with a 20mm cannon and can carry rockets, bombs and missiles.
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Zelensky talking to journalists said that Ukraine still did not have enough pilots trained to fly the F-16s or enough of the jets themselves. “The positive thing is that we are expecting additional F-16s … many guys are now training,” he said.
He added that Ukraine’s allies found ways to expand opportunities and training for both Ukrainian pilots and engineering teams.
Earlier, Ukraine had relied on an ageing fleet of Soviet-era fighter jets. “This is the new stage of development of the air force of Ukraine’s armed forces,” Zelensky said. Analysts say a long range of missiles would allow them to have a greater impact on the battlefield.
“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,” Zelensky said.
