Russia can deploy nearly 300 fighter jets against Ukraine, Deputy Chief of Ukrainian Military Intelligence Vadym Skibitskyi told Interfax-Ukraine.
Skibitsky noted that the incoming Western F-16 jets will help Ukraine destroy Russian planes.
“For three days, Russia bombed the Kanatove airfield near the city of Kropyvnytskyi to prevent us from deploying aviation there,” he said.
The exact number of F-16s for Ukraine is unclear. In summer 2023, the Netherlands and Denmark promised 42 and 19 aircraft – 61 jets combined. Belgium also vowed aircraft for 2025.
The timing of the F-16 deliveries remains unclear too. Denmark originally planned to send their jets in spring 2024 but now says June 2024.
Ukrainian pilots now train on F-16s abroad, including the US. In 2023, President Biden said Kyiv promised not to use Western jets to hit Russia.
But on February 22nd, NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg said Ukrainian F-16 pilots could strike legitimate Russian military sites.
In 2022, Ukraine had about 100 MiG-29, Su-27, Su-24 and Su-25 fighter jets per FlightGlobal.
Read more:
- Stoltenberg on F-16: Ukraine has right to self-defense, including hitting targets outside the country
- CNN: First group of Ukrainian pilots to complete US F-16 training by summer
- Rutte: Ukraine to receive at least 24 F-16 jets in total
- Canada commits $ 60 mn to support Ukraine’s future F-16 fleet
- Commander: Ukraine to receive F-16s, 300-500 km missiles in future aid packages
