Ukraine needs total of 160 F-16 fighters to strengthen our Air Force and prevent Russian Federation from dominating air, - Zelensky
In total, Ukraine needs 160 modern F-16 aircraft to have a powerful Air Force that will not allow Russia to dominate the airspace.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated this in an interview with the Portuguese TV channel RTP, Censor.NET reports.
According to him, Ukraine needs another hundred fighters in addition to the already promised "50-60" F-16 aircraft, which should arrive in early 2024.
"In general, we need about 160 fighters in order to have a powerful Air Force that will not give the Russian Federation the opportunity to dominate the airspace," the president said.
He expressed regret that this aviation assistance is being provided "later than he wanted" and that Russian dominance in the skies is still "absolute".
According to Zelensky, the fighter jets should be operational in Ukrainian skies at the beginning of next year. At the same time, this issue is complex, as it requires the training of not only pilots, but also engineers, as well as a lot of specialized maintenance, Zelensky added.
He also noted that Ukraine needs F-16s for defense and protection of the civilian population, not for counteroffensives.
Another urgent use of the F-16 is to ensure that Russia "does not illegally dominate the Black Sea and does not commit aggression by blocking our grain corridors in the Black and Azov seas," the president added.
