US to equip F-16s for Ukraine with missiles and other advanced weapons - WSJ
Illustrative photo: Ukraine will receive missiles for F-16s from US (Getty Images)
The United States of America has agreed to provide Ukraine with missiles and other armaments for F-16 fighter jets. The aircraft are expected to be delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) this summer, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The agency reminds that Denmark and the Netherlands are set to transfer F-16s to Ukraine soon, with future deliveries expected from Belgium and Norway. However, the issue of armament for the aircraft remained unresolved.
An unnamed senior US official told WSJ that despite the Pentagon's limited supplies, Washington has decided to transfer air-to-ground munitions, precision guidance kits for bombs, and advanced air-to-air missiles to Ukraine. The quantity of armaments planned for delivery will be sufficient to meet Ukraine's most urgent needs.
"We are confident that we will be able to supply all of those [weapons], at least the critical volumes that they need," the source said.
Ukraine will receive the following from the US:
- AGM-88 HARM air-to-ground missiles
- Versions of extended-range Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits, which convert unguided bombs into "smart" weapons
- Small diameter bombs (GLSDB)
- Medium-range air-to-air AMRAAM missiles
- Short-range air-to-air AIM-9X missiles
The source also specified that European countries may allocate funds to purchase additional armaments for Ukraine's F-16s from the US.
According to the official, the US will limit Ukraine in the use of missiles for the F-16s similar to other transferred weaponry. That is, Ukrainian defenders will be able to strike Russian territory with them only in response to attacks from the other side of the border.
It should be noted that Ukraine is also expecting the delivery of F-16 fighter jets from the U.S., but no corresponding announcements have been made.
At the same time, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, the bilateral security agreement with the US provides for the transfer of F-16 squadrons.
Background
During the NATO summit held in early July, it became known that Denmark and the Netherlands had begun the process of transferring F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The United States is helping them with the delivery.
It is not yet known when and how many planes Ukraine will receive. According to Western media, it is planned to provide about 80 F-16 fighters to Ukrainian defenders, but the deliveries will take place over several years.
