USAFE commander: Ukraine may need four to five years for F-16 proficiency

By Shelley K. Mesch / August 18, 2023 at 11:01 AM
Ukraine's Air Force may not become proficient with F-16 fighter jets for four or five years, a top U.S. Air Force official said Friday morning, and the aircraft won't be a "silver bullet" for the country to gain air superiority as it fights off Russia's invasion. F-16s will give Ukrainians better interoperability with weapons the U.S. and allies are sending for defense, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa Commander Gen. James Hecker told reporters during a Defense Writers...

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