No F-16s For Ukraine This Year

Two F-16 planes perform a fly-by near the 85th Air Base of the Romanian Air Force in 2016, in Romania [File: Octav Ganea/Inquam Photos via Reuters] 

Newsweek: Ukraine Faces Major F-16 Jet Blow 

Ukraine will not receive F-16 fighter jets before next year, a Ukrainian air force spokesperson has said, as Kyiv's backers still hesitate to take the plunge on providing Ukraine with advanced Western jets. 

"It is already obvious that we will not be able to protect Ukraine with F-16 jets this autumn and winter," Ukrainian air force Colonel Yuriy Ihnat said in remarks reported by Ukrainian outlet Ukrinform on Thursday. 

Ukraine has long called on its Western supporters to provide fighter jets to supplement its Soviet-era air force. Although Kyiv has received additional Soviet MiG-29 jets from NATO members, Western jets such as the F-16 would be a marked upgrade for the air force, now 18 months into all-out war with Russia's more modern fleet.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: This is why the West is reluctant to send F-16s to Ukraine .... Former F-16 pilot says he would not want to fly missions over Ukraine right now, arguing 'there is no fighting chance' (Business Insider). 

No F-16s For Ukraine This Year  

Ukraine says it has no hope of using F-16 fighter jets this year -- Reuters  

Ukraine says it won’t be able to deploy F16 jets against Russia this year -- Evening Standard  

Ukraine air force says no use of US-built F-16 fighter jets this year -- Al Jazeera  

Ukraine Won’t Get F-16 Fighter Jets Ahead of Challenging Autumn-Winter Period -- Kyiv Post  

Air Force: F-16s can't defend Ukraine this fall or winter -- Kyiv Independent

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