The Pentagon has tried to lower expectations about upcoming F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots and the possible handover of the planes to Ukraine, saying such measures “will not be relevant” for the upcoming counteroffensive.
Speaking at the G-7 leaders’ summit in Japan last week, President Joe Biden said the United States would support efforts by partners and allies to train Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots.
On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder explained that the training and eventual transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine are intended to meet medium- and long-term needs, not long-term goals. short term in the fight against Russian forces.
“The F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine are a long-term commitment to Ukraine,” Ryder said. “These F-16s will not be relevant for the upcoming counteroffensive.”
Information on how many F-16s will be delivered, from which countries they will arrive and at what time, has not yet been released. What has become known is that the United States, along with its partners and allies, will be involved in training Ukrainian pilots to work on these fighters.
“This training will take place outside of Ukraine at facilities in Europe,” Ryder said. “But in terms of when training begins, methods of supplying these fighters, who will supply them – we continue to work with our international partners on these issues.”
F-16 training could begin in the coming weeks or months, Ryder said. At the same time, he could not specify who would conduct the training, where, except for Europe, it would take place and where the training aircraft would come from. However, he noted that the United States will participate in this.
“Because the platform is built in the United States, it is clear that the export and technology transfer aspects are also something we will consider when working with our allies and partners in this direction,” did he declare. “We will have a lot more information in the next few days.”
Since the very first meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group in April 2022, the Pentagon has said that the focus will not only be on Ukraine’s immediate defense needs, but also on its long-term defense needs. term. The training of the F-16s and possibly their transfer to Ukraine will be part of this long-term support plan.
“Now we are fighting so that Ukraine can successfully defend itself and at the same time regain sovereign territory,” Ryder said. “But we look forward to a long-term relationship with Ukraine to meet their security needs, and again the idea is that they can secure their hard-won positions and deter future Russian aggression.”
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