For more than two years, Ukraine has been begging its Western allies to supply F-16 fighter jets, long considered the crown jewel in a long list of military hardware Kiev has sought.
"We often hear the word 'impossible' when it comes to F-16 fighters, but now this has become a reality right in the sky of Ukraine," Mr. Zelenskyy said at the announcement in front of two gray F-16s partially covered and emblazoned with the Ukrainian national emblem.
The Ukrainian president did not specify how many fighters had been delivered and declined to comment on their specific missions. Journalists saw at least two F-16s there.
Mr. Zelenskyy at the announcement on August 4. Photo: Reuters
"This is the fighter jet we have been waiting for, it can significantly increase our capabilities," said Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk.
Kiev hopes the arrival of the fighter jets, prized for their precision, speed and range, will help the country better defend itself against Russian bombing.
The fighters could begin to help Ukraine improve its air-to-air strike capabilities, but this will depend on a number of factors including the type of weapons the aircraft carry and the proficiency of the pilots, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine needed more aircraft. "The allies know that the number of F-16s we have in Ukraine, the number of trained pilots, is not enough. We are expecting more F-16s," he said.
In an interview in May, Mr. Zelenskyy said Ukraine needed about 130 F-16s to ensure air power parity with Russia.
Several NATO countries have pledged to provide Ukraine with various types of fighter jets and have been training pilots and crews for months. “Our guys are training a lot,” Zelenskyy said, thanking Denmark, the Netherlands, the United States and other allies.
F-16 fighter jets fly over Ukraine on August 4. Photo: AP
Meanwhile, recent attacks on Ukrainian airports have also raised questions about Kiev's ability to protect multimillion-dollar aircraft from Russian airstrikes.
In early July, Russia claimed to have destroyed five military jets in an attack on an air base in central Ukraine. Following the incident, Ukrainian military reporters criticized senior air force officials, saying that the planes at the airport were parked in the open without adequate protection.
Last week, Russia warned that any F-16s delivered to Ukraine would be shot down and insisted they would have little impact on the battlefield.
Ukraine's air force has long relied on a fleet of Soviet-era MIG-29 and Sukhoi jets, which have become increasingly ineffective after more than two years of carrying out demanding combat missions.
Hoai Phuong (according to AFP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tong-thong-ukraine-gioi-thieu-lo-tiem-kich-f-16-dau-tien-do-phuong-tay-vien-tro-post306369.html
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