US State Department approves sale of F-16 training, support services for Ukraine
The equipment and services include aircraft modifications and upgrades as well as personnel training related to operation, maintenance, and sustainment support.
F-16
Ukraine war latest: Russia attacks Kharkiv with drones, injuring at least 40
Key developments on May 2: * Russia attacks Kharkiv with drones, injuring at least 40 * Massive drone attack reportedly targets Russian military sites in occupied Crimea * U.S. confirms sending decommissioned F-16s to Ukraine for spare parts * Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhia kills 1, injures 28 A Russian drone attack on
US confirms sending decommissioned F-16s to Ukraine for spare parts support
According to an Air Force spokesperson, the U.S. Department of the Air Force "has supported the sustainment of European-donated F-16s to Ukraine by providing disused and completely non-operational F-16s to Ukraine for parts."
Ukrainian F-16 pilot Pavlo Ivanov killed during combat mission
Pavlo Ivanov, a 26-year-old Ukrainian pilot of an F-16 fighter jet, was killed during a combat mission on April 12, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.
More F-16 jets being prepared for Ukraine, US general says
"There are more F-16s prepared to be deployed in there. There are more pilots in the training pipelines," U.S. Army General Christopher Cavoli said on April 3.
Zelensky confirms new arrival of F-16 jets to Ukraine
A new shipment of Western F-16 fighter jets has arrived in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed to journalists on March 19.
Ukraine expects further F-16 deliveries from the Netherlands, Zelensky says
Following his meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof at the Munich Security Conference, President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses remains a top priority.
Netherlands to send more F-16s in 2025, Ukrainian defense minister says
The Netherlands will deliver another batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine in 2025, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on Jan. 31.
Ukraine war latest: Putin claims Zelensky doesn't have a right to sign any potential peace deal
Key developments on Jan. 28: * Putin claims Zelensky doesn't have a right to sign any potential peace deal * 'Pure propaganda' — Kharkiv Oblast governor denies Russian claims of capturing Dvorichna * Italian parliament extends military support for Ukraine through 2025 * SBU says it dismantled Russian spy network targeting F-16 jets * Government dismisses
SBU says it dismantled Russian spy network targeting F-16 jets
The operation, conducted near a military airfield, led to the arrest of two agents who were caught photographing a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet during takeoff.
'False story' — Denmark denies Russian claims of F-16 instructor killed in Kryvyi Rih strike
"This is a false story being spread by the Russian media — probably with the aim of discrediting Denmark," Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine hits Russia's infantry brigade command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims
Key developments on Jan. 7: * Ukraine hits Russia's infantry brigade command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims * In historic record, Ukrainian F-16 pilot downs 6 cruise missiles in single mission, Air Force claims * Trump blames Biden for provoking Russia's war by supporting Ukraine's NATO aspirations * Ukraine says it holds Kurakhove's
In historic record, Ukrainian F-16 pilot downs 6 cruise missiles in single mission, Air Force claims
For the first time in the history of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a Ukrainian-operated jet shot down six Russian cruise missiles during a single mission in December, the Air Force claimed on Jan. 7.
Can Ukraine sustain its F-16 fleet if Trump halts US aid?
As the outgoing administration of U.S. President Joe Biden rushes to provide last-minute aid to Ukraine before Donald Trump takes office in January, the State Department has recently announced a $266 million maintenance sales package for Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets. Trump has made no public comments about the Ukrainian
Norway to relocate Ukrainian F-16 pilot training base to Portugal, Norwegian defense minister says
Norway will continue training Ukrainian F-16 pilots as part of its support for Ukraine’s defense and will relocate its training base from Denmark to Portugal, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced in a Dec. 13 press release.
US announces $266 million in sales to bolster Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets
The State Department approved a $266 million foreign military sales package for Ukraine on Dec. 10, enabling the sustainment of services as well as repairs necessary for the upkeep of the country's F-16 fighter jets.
Denmark delivers second batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Zelensky announces
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that if all international partners demonstrated the same level of commitment then "Russian terror could already have been made impossible."
UK prepares another group of future Ukrainian F-16 pilots, bringing total number of trainees to 200
"The next step is advanced fast jet training and conversion to F-16 with partner nations," the statement read.
Is NATO ready for war with Russia?
The launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 confronted the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with a new geopolitical reality. Described as "braindead" by French President Emmanuel Macron only a few years prior, the alliance woke up to a threat previously thought consigned to the past: a
US revising F-16 training to focus on younger pilots, WSJ reports
The shift could extend the training program by months, delaying the Ukrainian squadron's battlefield readiness even further.
Dutch Defense Minister Brekelmans on F-16s, Victory Plan, Ukraine’s NATO bid
Sitting at Kyiv's main train station moments before wrapping up his trip to Ukraine, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans had a lot to discuss. Brekelmans has just announced that the first batch of Dutch F-16s are flying Ukrainian skies, defending the country from Russian air strikes. He also announced that
Denmark to invest nearly $630 million into Ukraine's defense production
Denmark will invest 4.2 billion Danish kroner ($628 million) into Ukraine's arms production, according to Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. Poulsen signed the following agreements with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov and Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin in Kyiv. The Danish defense minister's trip to Kyiv took place as
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine awaits Mirage 2000 jets, in talks about Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon
Key developments on Sept. 21-22: * Ukraine awaits Mirage 2000 jets, in talks about Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon, defense minister says * Ukraine confirms overnight strikes on Russian arms depots * Iran provided no launchers with missile deliveries to Russia, Reuters reports * Russia preparing strikes against Ukrainian nuclear facilities ahead of winter, foreign minister
Ukraine awaits Mirage 2000 jets, in talks about Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Ukraine has an agreement to receive Dassault Mirage 2000 jets. According to the minister, Ukraine is in talks to acquire Swedish-made Saab JAS 39 Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon fighters.
US may send Ukraine medium-range missiles for F-16s, Politico reports
A medium-range glide bomb known as the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) might be included in the new military aid package, U.S. officials told Politico. The missile can cover a distance of over 70 miles.
Ukraine war latest: Putin to increase Russian military personnel and staff by 180,000
* Putin signs decree increasing number of military personnel, staff to 2.38 million * Ukraine's Victory Plan 90% complete, Zelensky says * Zelensky signs law establishing Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces * Ukraine to receive another batch of Danish F-16s this year, minister says * Latvia to supply Ukraine with British-made CVR(T) armored vehicles
Ukraine to receive another batch of Danish F-16s this year, minister says
The Danish government promised to transfer another batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of this year, the DR broadcaster reported on Sept. 15, citing Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
Ukrainian pilots arrive in Romania for F-16 training
Ukrainian pilots arrived in Romania to start training on Dutch aircraft at the Borcea air base "a few days ago," Digi24 news outlet reported on Sept. 12. They are now reportedly learning details about the F-16s on the ground.
Sweden takes step toward supplying Ukraine with Gripen fighter jets
Weeks after Ukraine received its first batch of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets from European allies and more than a year after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the start of test trials on Sweden’s prestigious Gripen multipurpose variants, Stockholm signaled that their possible transfer to Ukraine remains on the
Howitzers, missiles, armor — what Ukraine was promised in Ramstein
As the allies gathered at the Ramstein Air Base for the 24th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in person to lobby for faster deliveries of air defenses and long-range weapons. Despite new aid pledges, the result has been rather lackluster. Kyiv has been
After F-16 crash, West debates rushed training for Ukrainian pilots, WSJ reports
The training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s has been happening at an accelerated pace. Ukraine's pilot training program is ongoing, but "the crash shows what happens when you try to rush things," an unnamed senior defense official told the WSJ.
US General Breedlove on balancing air superiority and drone warfare
Retired U.S. General Philip M. Breedlove discusses how the delayed introduction of F-16s has limited their immediate effectiveness in Ukraine and what lessons on balancing air superiority and drone warfare NATO should learn from Ukraine war.
F-16s FOR UKRAINE
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American air superiority fighter that Kyiv has requested from its allies since the start of the full-scale invasion. Denmark and the Netherlands founded the "fighter jet coalition" for Ukraine on July 11, 2023 at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania with nine other countries: Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
These countries pledged to help provide Kyiv with F-16s and train Ukrainian pilots and technical staff to operate the jets. Washington gave its approval in August 2023 to the Netherlands and Denmark to donate their F-16s to Ukraine after training was complete, and agreed to start training Ukrainian pilots in Arizona from October 2023.
Kyiv has been promised 79 F-16s from the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium, with the first 20 reportedly scheduled to arrive by the end of 2024. Belgium will supply Ukraine with 30 F-16 fighter jets by 2028.
Learn more about F-16s FOR UKRAINE
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