Ukraine war: US to support providing F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

[jgo]

Source: BBC News

The US says it will support providing advanced fighter jets including US-made F-16s to Ukraine and also back training Ukrainian pilots to fly them.

A senior White House official said President Biden had told G7 leaders in Japan of the decision.

US approval for the scheme means other nations can export their F-16s.

This is because the US legally has to approve the re-export of equipment purchased by allies.


Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65649471

[LymphocyteLover]

1. excellent news!

[Botany]

2. Good

ATTN Russia pilots if you fly into Ukraine airspace you will die. Although it is old the F-16 is one
bad ass fighter. From the jump it can be @ 36,000 ft in something like 30 seconds. And its
sidewinder missile are good from 20 miles out.

[nycbos]

3. Good.

Though I am confused about one thing. I thought it took years to be proficient on the F 16? Or am I confusing that with something else?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

4. ...

I thought it took years to be proficient on the F 16? Or am I confusing that with something else?

For a brand new rookie learning to fly fighters, yes, but those Ukrainian's being trained are already seasoned pilots, they just have to learn the controls of the F-16, which shouldn't take too long.

[rickford66]

7. They're already training on simulators on a rotating basis.

It's actually the avionics and weapons systems that would be new for them and they can learn quite a bit on desktop simulators.

[Bayard]

6. Game changer

Wonder what changed Biden's mind?

"The F-16 would help Ukraine strike behind Russian lines." So, this will become an offensive war now? When do they get permission to strike inside of Russia?

[Javaman]

8. Imagine if all this support was given at the start of the war?

Russia would have already been beaten back to its border and more than likely putootie would have been kicked out of power.

Prior to putooties invasion and prior to Zelensky and prior to the puppet that was installed by moscow before Zelensky, Ukraine was on the path to becoming a member of the EU and probably NATO would have quickly followed, but putootie saw the writing on the wall and quickly installed his puppet.