(Washington) US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed on Thursday that European allies were setting up a coordinated program to train Ukrainian forces to use the US F-16 fighter jet, but the Pentagon leaders have warned that this would be a costly and complex task.
Mr. Austin recalled that in addition to training, Ukraine will also need to be able to maintain the planes and have enough ammunition.
According to him, air defense systems are still the weapons Ukraine needs most in its war effort.
PHOTO KEVIN LAMARQUE, REUTERS
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
“There are no magic weapons,” added Army General Mark Milley, who is also chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
During a press briefing, he indicated that sending 10 F-16 fighters could cost 2 billion US, maintenance included.
“The Russians have over 1,000 fourth and fifth generation fighters, so to take on Russia in the air, you need a substantial number of fourth and fifth generation fighters. »
As a result, he said, the allies did the right thing by first providing Ukraine with a significant amount of integrated air defense to cover the battlespace.
Mr. Milley stressed that the F-16s would play an important role in Ukraine’s air capabilities for the coming battles, but that “it will take a long time to build an air force of the size, range and scale that would be needed” to defeat Russia.
Mr Austin, meanwhile, said the Dutch and Danish defense ministers were already working with the United States on the effort. Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have also offered to contribute to the training of Ukrainians.
In addition, he indicated that the allies will set up a fund so that other nations can contribute to the global effort.
“We expect more countries to join this important initiative,” Austin said, adding that the training is “an important example of our long-term commitment to Ukraine’s security.”
Earlier in the day, Mr. Austin mentioned that he hoped the training of Ukrainian pilots on American-made F-16 fighter jets would begin in the coming weeks, strengthening Ukraine in the long term, but not necessarily to time for a counter-offensive planned for this spring.