Kyiv expects delivery of first F-16 jets in June or July – military source

A senior Ukrainian military source has told Reuters Kyiv expects the first F-16 jets to be delivered in June or July.

Ukraine has sought the US-made F-16 fighter jets to help it counter Russian air superiority during more than two years of war. The source did not say who would supply the jets

The spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force this week announced some of his country’s pilots are finishing up training to fly F-16 Fighting Falcon jets.

Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform on Thursday reported Major Illia Yevlash, who was appointed head of the Air Force Command’s Public Relations Service in March, said an unspecified number of Ukrainian pilots are completing preparations to fly the U.S.-made aircraft.

Military analysts consider the addition of F-16s to Kyiv’s military as an upgrade to its Air Force. For much of the war that was started by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022, Ukraine has relied on Soviet-era MiG and Sukhoi jets.

Several of Kyiv’s allies have pledged F-16s, and Ukrainian pilots are being trained by an international coalition on flying the fighter jets. Training has taken place in France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania and the United States