Ukraine will not receive F-16 fighter jets from its allies this year as hoped, a spokesman for the country’s Air Force said late Wednesday, confirming that, as expected, the advanced planes won’t play a role in the current counteroffensive.
“It is already obvious that we will not be able to protect Ukraine with F-16 fighters this autumn and winter,” Yuriy Ihnat, the spokesman, told Ukrainian television.
First flown in 1976, the F-16 “Fighting Falcon” is a supersonic fighter jet used by militaries in 25 countries for air-to-air combat and air-to-ground strikes.
It is built by the American defense contractor Lockheed Martin and manufacturers in Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway.
There are approximately 3,000 in active military service worldwide, including hundreds in the U.S. Air Force and Navy.
Persons:
Yuriy Ihnat, “, Lockheed Martin
Organizations:
country’s Air Force, U.S . Air Force, Navy
Locations:
Ukraine, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway