Ukraine will store F-16s abroad to protect against Russian strikes

Ukraine will store F-16s abroad to protect against Russian strikes

Fox News writes that Ukraine plans to store F-16 fighter jets abroad to protect against Russian strikes.

Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have pledged to provide Ukraine with more than 60 US-made F-16 fighter jets to help it fend off Russian attacks.

Today, Ukrainian pilots are being trained to fly these aircraft ahead of deliveries due to begin later this year.

The chief of aviation of the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Serhiy Holubtsov, confirmed that “a certain number of aircraft will be stored at protected air bases outside of Ukraine so that they do not become a target for attacks here.”

Golubtsov believes that these F-16s can be used to replace damaged aircraft during their repair, as well as to train Ukrainian pilots abroad.

“This way, we will always be able to have a certain number of aircraft in the operational fleet that corresponds to the number of pilots that we have,” he said. “If there are more pilots, then there will be more planes in Ukraine,” he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow may consider attacking targets in NATO countries if military aircraft from Ukraine are stationed on their territory.

Holubtsov noted that the F-16s will help protect frontline and border areas from Russian glide bombs, which have already caused significant damage to both troops and residential areas, including Kharkiv.

I think that we will be able, first of all, to push the planes dropping bombs further from the line of contact.
- he said.

If we manage to do this, at least for another 20-30 miles, this can already be considered a turning point and the achievement of, if not an advantage, then parity in the airspace.
– summed up Serhiy Holubtsov.