Bloomberg reported that the first small batch of F-16 fighter jets from NATO allies has arrived in Ukraine in a long-awaited move that may boost the war-torn nation’s ability to repel Russian attacks. According to people familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously, the deadline for transferring the US-made warplanes was the end of this month and has been respected.
Unfortunately, it is unclear whether Ukrainian pilots trained with their Western allies over the past months will be able to use the fighter jets immediately. Even if in small numbers at first, the transfer of jets should help Kyiv build a capacity that can put a dent in Russia’s aerial superiority, which currently allows the Kremlin to decimate Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leading to rolling blackouts.
Denmark and the Netherlands are among the countries supplying F-16 jets, with Belgium and Norway also pledging jets.
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s top national security adviser, has said the F-16s are expected to defend front-line forces in the short term and help retake territory “down the road.”