“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?
europeans insisting they’re independent countries but they need Uncle Sam’s permission to send their own military hardware anywhere 🤔
Hexes gonna hex
HA! And now you have been hexed too! If you were quiet we wouldn’t have known to hex you but now you will forever be noticing that your shoes are untied and have rocks in them. haha ha ha!
Still contains secrets that the US doesn’t want to fall in to the hands of her enemies. I’m sure part of the purchasing agreement is non-transfer clauses and the such to limit the risk. That said Ukraine should’ve had access to these last year
The first F-16 flew in 1974, half a century ago. Considering how widely they’ve been used, no one is going to learn anything significant if a few more are shot down or captured.
Which is going to happen 30s after getting into country. The weapons trickle is a cruel joke at this point. The last Ukrainian to die is going to be in an Abrahams.
Yeah? And the last Russian to die is going to be in a recommissioned t55.
Cope
No you
How fucking long have they been saying Ukraine will get F-16? The war will end before they get them! It’s likely they won’t be operational in Ukraine before 2025.
Did they solve the issue of F16s needing pristine runways to take off and land? Russia as been able to damage Patriot AA in the heart of Kiev months ago so any airstrip in Ukraine is basically a sitting duck. A kinzal missile has an effective range 1.5-2x a F16 and all it has to hit is the runway to ground every f16 on an airbase. That said theyd still probably get more flight time than the average F35
Other than cost, I haven’t understood the hesitancy to give Ukraine all the weapons they ask for, immediately.
When war breaks out, it means diplomacy has failed. It only makes sense to no longer consider diplomacy a major factor when making wartime decisions - especially when providing support to a country that’s defending itself from an unprovoked invasion, which is a violation of international law. Half measures only prolong the war, which ultimately makes it more expensive for supporting countries. For Ukraine, civilians and soldiers are dying every day.
This war should have ended by now. I’m glad that most of the world is condemning Putin, but we’re not doing enough.
I’m not an expert or anything, but as it has been explained to me, the geo-political consequences of Ukraine having NATO weapons is enormous… If Ukraine were to have access to F-18s, F-35s, or any NATO asset, it would implicate NATO, and further escalate the conflict towards a NATO-Russian war (World War 3), and the precipitation of nuclear assets. This is why even France’s own Dassault assets and Sweden’s Saabs were not offered. F-16s are old enough, and used enough by non-NATO forces that this might be okay.
A prolonged war, while incredibly tragic, might still be less costly than World War 3…
I’m not an expert
Clearly.
Ukraine were to have access to F-18s, F-35s, or any NATO asset, it would implicate NATO
Bullshit. Everything you just listed is in use by non-NATO countries. The primary drivers for “unlocking” new varieties of aid to Ukraine appear to be:
- battlefield utility in the near future (javelin, himars/m270, western IFVs, tanks etc).
- sending a message to that western support is locked in for the long term (repair facilities, announcements around reconstruction aid)
the geo-political consequences of Ukraine having NATO weapons is enormous… … [It would] … further escalate the conflict towards a NATO-Russian war (World War 3), and the precipitation of nuclear assets.
Russia has claimed that every single new weapons system delivered is “escalatory” and threatens nuclear war every single time. Please stop spreading their propaganda for them.
This is why even France’s own Dassault assets and Sweden’s Saabs were not offered.
Are you sure that it has to do with this and not the fact that there were more F-16s produced than each of the alternatives combined?
Lmao what’s with the salty tone lol
I’m having reddit flashbacks
You can always stick to beehaw if you want nothing but butterflies and puppies.
I’m going to counter Russian misinformation wherever I see it, and these are the same old tired claims, just dressed up with a little hat and bow tie this time.
Oh, please. Don’t try and pretend your behavior is justified because you’re spreading Truth.
You could have made your point without being obnoxious and condescending, but chose to throw civility out the window. I don’t want “nothing but butterflies and puppies”. I want mature people who are able to communicate like adults.
I haven’t understood the hesitancy to give Ukraine all the weapons they ask for, immediately.
It’s clear that you’re unaware of the extensive corruption in Ukraine. Political corruption, Bribes, Judicial corruption, Corruption in the public sector, Corruption in higher education, Corruption in the social security system, not like Russia is any different, but Ukraine like to pretend they are honest while they pickpocket you.
Ask yourself; why does the US have to approve this?