Army General Christopher G. Cavoli, the dual-hatted commander of Supreme Allied Command Europe and U.S. European Command, recently informed the Senate Armed Services Committee that F-16 fighter jets are currently being used by Ukraine in its ongoing war with russia. Speaking before the committee, General Cavoli stated that these aircraft are conducting operations inside Ukraine on a daily basis.
According to the general, the F-16s are playing a critical role in both defensive and offensive operations. He said, "They fly every day; they’ve defeated a large number of cruise missile threats, and they’ve also carried out a significant number of offensive missions, specifically bombing attacks in the east."
Read more: Ukrainian F-16 Pilot Set a Historic Record by Shooting Down Six Missiles in One Flight
While General Cavoli did not disclose the exact number of F-16s currently in use, he noted that the aircraft have been supplied primarily by the Netherlands and Denmark. He also indicated that additional F-16s are being prepared for delivery to Ukraine in the near future.
His remarks underscore the growing role of Western-supplied weaponry in the war and reaffirm the continued support of NATO allies for Ukraine’s defense efforts.
As reported in the article, last month the Ukrainian Air Force released an interview with one of its F-16 pilots. The pilot, whose identity was withheld for security reasons, revealed that over 80 percent of the missiles fired from these jets have successfully hit their targets - eliminating russia’s Shahed drones and cruise missiles launched from air, sea, and land.
The pilot added that the multirole fighters are also conducting offensive counter-air missions, as well as multiple ground-attack operations each day over russian territory and occupied areas of Ukraine.
Read more: Incredible Footage of an F-16 Fighter Jet in Combat on the Front Line
