F16 To Go

The Pentagon has officially announced that Ukrainian pilots are currently undergoing training both in the United States and Europe to ensure they possess the necessary capabilities and knowledge to operate F-16 aircraft. The United States is set to hand over these aircraft to Ukraine, and in facilitating the transfer, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway have expressed their intention to serve as the third party involved.

The commitment to support Ukraine's new fleet of F-16 aircraft, valued at over a billion US dollars, extends beyond the delivery phase. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, William A. Plante, emphasized the provision of support for spare parts, stating, "Whatever we deliver to the Ukrainians, provide 90 days of spares, please, please, that's the rule of thumb — 90 days of spares."

Since February 2022, the United States has fulfilled its military support promise to Ukraine, delivering a total of 44.2 billion in support and hardware. Ground partners in Ukraine, particularly the Ukraine Defense Contract Group, are poised to ensure that Ukraine maintains long-term capabilities to handle both maintenance and spare parts requirements in the future.