Despite high hopes, Ukraine will not receive US F-16 fighter jets this year: Air Force

Yuriy Ignat, spokesperson for Ukrainian Air Force Command, announced on Wednesday that despite having "high hopes" for American-me F-16 fighter jets to safeguard ir airspace, Ukraine will not be receiving se aircraft during upcoming fall or winter seasons.

"Unfortunately, it is alrey clear that we will not be able to protect Ukraine with F-16s throughout fall and this winter," Sputnik quoted Ignat during a marathon of all-Ukrainian brocasters. "re were high hopes for se aircraft, that se could really become part of air defence."

Highlighting progress on matter, spokesperson said that Ukrainian pilots would soon undergo training to operate aircraft. ditionally, Ignat stressed importance of enhancing Ukraine's defensive capabilities against drone assaults. He expressed his belief that fortifying country's air defenses is imperative.

Earlier, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov articulated military's requirement for aircraft, with a preference for F-16 fighter jets, capable of functioning as integral components of ir air defence system and possessing ability to engage ground targets if situation demands.

Ukrainian pilots' F-16 training off to a slow start

In mid-July, White House officially affirmed its decision to enable European allies to commence training of Ukrainian pilots for operating American-manufactured F-16 fighter jets. White House also committed to equipping Ukrainians with essential resources to initiate ir training as soon as European partners are rey.

While Ukraine has been eager to get started, a recent US report suggests that initial batch of Ukrainian pilots undergoing training for se fighter jets might not be sufficiently prepared to operate m until upcoming summer next year.

As per senior officials from Ukrainian government and military who were quoted, a small initial group of merely six pilots will undertake inaugural phase of instruction, with an ditional two pilots designated as backup candidates. However, se initial pilots undergoing training are not anticipated to complete ir training in near future, as sources revealed to Sputnik. Allegedly, officials expressed ir dissatisfaction with delays from ir Western supporters in executing training program.