After months of asking, Ukraine finally got the West to shift its stance on outfitting its air force with F-16s.
But the fourth-gen fighter jets won't necessarily be a game-changer or give Ukraine air superiority.
But the right weapon systems may allow F-16s "to strike targets that Ukraine might not otherwise be able to hit."
"The decision to give Ukraine F-16s is not about helping it survive the next phase of the war, but helping it ensure its sovereignty in the long term."
Two US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons US Air Force photo by Tech.
Persons:
—, Biden, David Kujawa, Pat Ryder, Ryder, Tannehill, Charles Vaughn, Kevin Gruenwald, Matthew Lotz, JASSMs
Organizations:
US Navy, Service, RAND Corporation, US Air Force, Alpena Combat Readiness, Center, Pentagon Press, Air Force, RAND, AIM, Alabama Air National Guard, Air, Controller, Mirgorod Air Base, Tech, Incirlik Air Base, Staff of, Armed Forces, Fighting Falcons US Air Force, Kyiv
Locations:
Ukraine, Russia, Michigan, Denmark, Netherlands, Europe, Ukrainian, California, Kyiv, Turkey, Russian, Crimea