Ukraine needs to continue upgrading its aircraft fleet, requiring around 150 aircraft of various types, including transport planes, to replace the old ones, said Illia Yevlash, spokesman for Ukraine's Air Force, in response to a question about President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent statement on the need for 120-130 F-16 multifunctional fighters.
Read more: Only When F-16s Arrive to Ukraine It Will Be Possible to Assess Technical Characteristics of russian Aircraft
Yevlash noted that the aircraft are needed for various tasks, including patrolling Ukrainian airspace, destroying small targets, and serving as air defense systems. These aircraft would deter russian aviation, which is currently terrorizing border and frontline areas and launching strikes with its own air defense systems. Yevlash noted that Ukraine aims for a complete rearmament of its fleet, but the speed of this process will depend on international partners.
The spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force noted on the Pryamiy TV channel that Ukraine aims for a complete rearmament of its aircraft fleet, but how quickly this happens would depend on international partners.
Ukraine is set to receive its first F-16 fighter jets this summer, although the number of aircraft in the initial batch remains unknown. Meanwhile, the Dutch Defense Ministry recently announced that 10 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained to maintain these aircraft.
"There can never be too many of these specialists, and the first ones in this field have already started returning to Ukraine. They will share their experience directly with our personnel on Ukrainian soil. Of course, when a pilot takes to the skies in an F-16, he can be said to completely trust his life to the engineer who maintains and supports the aircraft, as this work is crucial for the maintenance of such machines," says Yievlash.
It also became known earlier that Ukraine has already received its first full-fledged F-16 fighter jet simulator from the Czech Republic. Previously, the Ukrainian Air Force detailed why it is impressive and why this is truly an important event.
Read more: NATO Exhibits Ukrainian Pilots’ Training on F-16 Fighter Jets in Denmark (Video)
