Reznikov voiced an scenario regarding the acquisition of the F-16

Ukraine will receive American F-16 fighters no earlier than 2024, and this is still an optimistic scenario. Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said this at a briefing on Wednesday, July 19.

In fact, he did not announce anything new, because there were official statements from various officials earlier, which indicated that the planes would arrive at the beginning of next year. In the best case.

"There will be F-16s. This is already good news, but training will begin first," Reznikov noted.

The minister recalled that at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Ukraine and 11 partner countries signed a memorandum on the training of Ukrainian pilots on the F-16. Ukrainian pilots and technical engineers will study in several countries at the same time, and the training will start already in August.

"And we here in Ukraine will do our 'homework': we will assess the capabilities of our airfields where the planes will be used, we will build the infrastructure for them - shelter, support, gas stations, etc.," Reznikov said.

According to him, only when the infrastructure and pilots capable of performing combat tasks are ready, and the engineers are ready to service this equipment, at that moment the partners will make a decision: "Okay, now the planes!".

"So it will take some time. I optimistically think that it will be next year," summed up the head of the military department.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 20/07/2023