The United States has approved sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands to defend against Russian invaders as soon as pilot training is completed, a U.S. official said on Thursday.

“I am writing to express the United States’ full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors […] It remains critical that Ukraine is able to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty” said Blinken.

Will this solidify a Ukrainian victory?

U.S. officials have privately said that F-16 jets would have been of little help to Ukraine in its current counteroffensive and will not be a game changer when they eventually arrive given Russian air defense systems and contested skies over Ukraine

Or will Russian radar and missle systems tear them up?

  • Lols [they/them]
    7•1 year ago

    europeans do not need uncle sams permission to send their own military hardware anywhere, they need uncle sams permission to send US patented and classified materials anywhere

    similar to how the US needs permission to send [european country here]'s patented and classified materials anywhere

    • @sunbeam60@lemmy.one
      2•1 year ago

      Correct! If the US wanted to send a batch of their NSMs to another country, sure as shit Norway would need to approve first.

      It’s got zero to do with European independence and everything to do with how a purchasing contract is set up.