This year, Ukraine is set to receive the first multirole F-16 fighters from allies. Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Illia Yevlash stated that Ukraine is preparing a set of measures to protect F-16 fighters while they are stationed at airfields, so that they can effectively carry out missions on the battlefield.
At the same time, the question of what armament Ukraine will receive along with the F-16 remains relevant today. Of course, with the caveat that specifics on this matter may remain confidential, and information about the delivered armaments may only be disclosed after they are used in strikes against the russian occupying forces.
Read more: How Can Non-Working F-16 Fighters Be Useful for Ukraine?
However, included in the list of new US defense assistance worth $1 billion is the item "precision aviation munitions," but the specifics are not disclosed.
In this context, it is interesting to note the message on social media from X (formerly Twitter) by The Insider columnist and military analyst Colby Badhwar, who asserts that a member of the US Congress publicly calls for the transfer of the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) to Ukraine.
He noted that the United States should provide Ukraine with AGM-158 JASSM air-launched cruise missiles for their F-16s and urged action.
The transfer of these long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine would indeed be a valuable addition to Ukraine's future F-16s. Defense Express previously provided detailed information about what type of missile it is.
Reminding that the AGM-158 JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) was created and manufactured by Lockheed Martin and has been in operation since 2003. In its basic version, the AGM-158A JASSM has a range of 370 km and a penetrating warhead WDU-42/B weighing 450 kg.
Read more: Ukrainian Air Force Explains How F-16 Fighters Protection at Airfields Will Be Implemented
