F-16 can change everything and clear sky of Russian aviation, - Ihnat
Western F-16 fighters will help clear the sky of Russian aircraft.
Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said this on the air of the telethon, Censor.NET reports.
"The F-16 is the weapon that will be able to change everything. If today we see huge aviation activity on our radars, monitors. This does not allow our ground troops to effectively carry out offensive actions and liberate our territories today. They (Russians. - Ed.) use the support of their own air defense, which is quite powerful. They use aviation support. This applies to helicopters, fighters, bombers, and attack aircraft. We need to clear the sky of them. F-16 can clean it," he emphasized.
"So yes, airplanes are cool, but we still need partners to supply all that he has under his wings. All the payload that can send Russian ships, their warehouses, command posts and aircraft of various types to the bottom quite quickly," Ignat added.
He noted that Ukraine expects to receive F-16 in good modifications that will be able to ensure this result.
Earlier, the White House reported that the US supports the decision to provide F-16s to Ukraine after pilot training is completed.
President Zelenskyy, after meeting with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rutte, said that the transfer of 42 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine after the training of our pilots is being discussed. And the Netherlands and Denmark undertake to transfer F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. Ukrainian pilots have already started training in Denmark.
The Prime Minister of Denmark Frederiksen said that the country will provide 19 planes. Denmark plans to send the first 6 units to Ukraine closer to the New Year.
70 pilots and aviators are already undergoing training in Denmark. According to Defense Minister Reznikov, the minimum period of preparation is 6 months. At the same time, the commander of the Air Force stated that two pilots will be able to master the F-16 in four months.
The Air Force stated that 128 fighter jets are needed for air superiority in Ukraine.
The Pentagon said that the US is ready to train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 if European countries do not have time. At the same time, the EU can compensate part of the costs of countries that transfer F-16s to Ukraine.
Greece will also join the training of Ukrainian pilots.
