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Ukraine needs such aircraft as the F-16
Ukraine’s priority is the American F-16. But the French Rafale and the Swedish Gripen are also considered as options.
Ukraine expects to receive 24 modern fighter jets from Western partners as part of the first such aid package. This was said by the spokesman of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Colonel Yuriy Ignat, according to the Spanish publication El País on Saturday, January 28.
According to him, it is about two fighter battalions, each of which will have 12 aircraft.
At the same time, Ukraine’s priority is the American F-16 fighters. But the French Rafale and the Swedish Gripen are also considered as options.
“The 24 fighter jets would be only an urgent first phase in a new chapter of arms delivery to the country invaded by Russia,” the newspaper writes.
Yuriy Ignat noted that, in addition to complex political discussions and decisions regarding the transfer of aircraft, Ukraine will not be able to immediately hope to receive fighter jets – it will take at least six months to train pilots and ground service teams.
Earlier, Yuriy Hnat reported that it is already known in fact that what type of aircraft will Ukraine receive from the allies and what are the terms of personnel training.
And the President’s Office said that the issue of providing Ukraine with F-16 has been unblocked. At the same time, this question has three components.