Contracts to supply aircraft to Ukraine pave way for their domestic production
F-16 fighter jet delivered to Ukraine (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Contracts to supply Ukraine with Western combat aircraft envisage local production and maintenance within the country, Colonel Oleksandr Diakiv, commander of the Ukrainian Air Force's aviation forces, says.
"As for localizing production, the major manufacturers that are ready to supply us with aircraft are also ready to localize production in Ukraine. They are ready to help us," Diakiv said.
At the same time, he noted that implementing these plans directly depends on the security situation. As long as Russia can reach even western regions of Ukraine, it does not make sense to deploy such capabilities.
"You understand that certain security conditions have to be in place for us to do this. It makes no sense to bring in capabilities to repair aircraft here under conditions where the enemy's means of strike can reach Uzhhorod, Chernivtsi, and Lviv," the military commander explained.
However, he stressed that Ukraine's partners are ready to localize, and these opportunities are included in contracts to supply foreign-made combat aircraft to Ukraine.
"This is stipulated in the contracts for the supply of foreign-made aircraft that we already have, and we will carry this out in Ukraine," the commander concluded.
Aircraft delivery to Ukraine
As reported several weeks ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian pilots would soon begin flying new Gripen E fighter jets. According to him, preparations are progressing faster than expected.
Reports also emerged that Belgium will deliver seven F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026. Three of them are combat-ready, while the other four will be used for spare parts.
