Pentagon Leaders: F-16s Not Game-Changer in Ukraine.

The Biden administration is sending American-made F-16s to Ukraine to help defend its skies, but they won’t be used in the offensive against Russian invaders. This was reiterated by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley during a press conference following the May 25 meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

President Joe Biden announced on May 19 that the United States would allow allies to provide fourth-generation F-16 Falcons and train Ukrainian forces in how to fly and maintain them. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been lobbying for the United States and its allies to provide the multi-role fighter for months.

The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland have offered to contribute F-16s or provide training for pilots and ground crews. The F-16s won’t arrive for months and when they do, there won’t be enough of them to make a significant impact.

Building Ukraine’s Defense

Austin said it will take time to train pilots and crews to maintain and arm the fighter jets. Milley said the emphasis has been—and remains—building Ukraine’s ground-based air defenses in mitigating Russia’s air superiority. Ten fourth-generation F-16s collectively cost $1 billion, and over their service-spans, it will cost another $1 billion to maintain them.

According to Milley, the smartest thing to have done is provide a significant amount of integrated air defense to cover the battle-space and deny the Russians the airspace. That doesn’t mean the F-16s are a wasted investment, as they could be the foundation for a Ukraine Air Force that can take on the Russians head-to-head in the sky.

Priorities: Air Defense, Armor, Artillery

Immediate necessities are air defense systems, armored vehicles, and munitions. “One of Ukraine’s most urgent requirements is ground-based air defense,” Austin said. “And this contact group will continue driving hard to help Ukraine defend the skies. In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its sordid bombardment of Ukrainian cities.”

Despite President Joe Biden’s consent to allow F-16s to be sent into Ukraine, Pentagon officials maintain Kyiv’s most pressing needs remain ground-based air defense, such as these U.S.-provided Patriot missile defense system at Sliac Airport in Sliac, near Zvolen, Slovakia, on May 6, 2022. (Radovan Stoklasa/Reuters)

The United States Sends F-16s to Ukraine

The United States is sending American-made F-16s to Ukraine to help defend its skies against Russian invaders. However, the F-16s won’t be used in the offensive against the invaders. The Biden administration announced on May 19 that allies would provide fourth-generation F-16 Falcons and train Ukrainian forces in how to fly and maintain them. The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland have offered to contribute F-16s or provide training for pilots and ground crews. The F-16s won’t arrive for months and when they do, there won’t be enough of them to make a significant impact.

Building Ukraine’s Defense

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley emphasized the importance of building Ukraine’s ground-based air defenses in mitigating Russia’s air superiority. While the F-16s could be the foundation for a Ukraine Air Force that can take on the Russians head-to-head in the sky, immediate necessities are air defense systems, armored vehicles, and munitions. “One of Ukraine’s most urgent requirements is ground-based air defense,” Austin said. “And this contact group will continue driving hard to help Ukraine defend the skies. In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its sordid bombardment of Ukrainian cities.”

Investing in Ukraine’s Defense

While the F-16s are a significant investment, they won’t be enough to make a significant impact against Russia’s thousands of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. According to Milley, the smartest thing to have done is provide a significant amount of integrated air defense to cover the battle-space and deny the Russians the airspace. The F-16s could be the foundation for a Ukraine Air Force that can take on the Russians head-to-head in the sky, but it will take time to train pilots and crews to maintain and arm the fighter jets. Over their service-spans, the F-16s will cost $2 billion for 10 aircraft.

Thanking Allies

Austin and Milley thanked the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland for offering to contribute F-16s or provide training for pilots and ground crews. They said the response underscores the commitment of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a 54-nation alliance—including all 31 NATO states—that has collectively contributed more than $65 billion in equipment, munitions, training, and other assistance to Kyiv in response to Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

Conclusion

The United States is investing in Ukraine’s defense by sending F-16s to help defend its skies against Russian invaders. While the F-16s won’t be used in the offensive against the invaders, they could be the foundation for a Ukraine Air Force that can take on the Russians head-to-head in the sky. Immediate necessities are air defense systems, armored vehicles, and munitions. The United States and its allies are committed to helping Ukraine defend its skies and have collectively contributed more than $65 billion in equipment, munitions, training, and other assistance to Kyiv in response to Russia’s February 2022 invasion.