The US-made F-16 fighter jets arriving in Ukraine this summer are “no longer relevant” to the war, a senior Ukrainian military official said, adding that “projectiles and rockets” will be needed in 2024.
The Ukrainian Air Force is expected to receive the multirole supersonic fighter jets in July, as pilots have been trained and the war-torn country’s airfields are prepared.
Before their arrival, the F-16s were thought to be the winning weapon that could tip the balance in the war with Russia in Ukraine’s favor.
“Often, we simply don’t receive weapons systems at the time we need them; they arrive when they are no longer relevant,” the senior officer told Politico.
‘Each weapon has its own right moment. F-16s needed in 2023; they will not be suitable for 2024.’
A Ukrainian military official said F-16 fighter jets are “no longer relevant” to Ukraine and urged the West to send “projectiles and rockets” instead.
The Ukrainian Air Force is expected to receive the multirole supersonic fighter jets in July.
This comes after Vladimir Putin warned just a few days ago that any F-16 aircraft donated to Ukraine will be shot down.
The US Congress has blocked a $60 billion military aid package, ultimately leading to severe ammunition shortages.
This, in turn, has led to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army being able to push back kyiv’s forces along almost the entire 600-mile front line.
This has increased orders for more traditional weapons such as air defense missiles, howitzers and shells.
“We need howitzers and shells, hundreds of thousands of shells and rockets,” the official said, estimating that Ukraine needed a staggering total of four million shells and two million drones.
The military officer assured that they have communicated to the United States that their forces have all the required combat experience, as well as an understanding of war on the battlefield; all they need are the resources of the West.
It comes just days after Putin warned that any F-16 aircraft donated to Ukraine would be shot down.
“If you supply F-16s, and you are talking about this and apparently training pilots, this will not change the situation on the battlefield,” Putin told Russian air force pilots during a tour of a training facility in Torzhok , in Tver, Russia. region.
“We will destroy aircraft in the same way as today we destroy tanks, armored vehicles and other equipment, including multiple rocket launchers.”
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, has called on kyiv’s Western allies to prioritize sending more American-made Patriot defense missiles to repel Russian airstrikes on their cities.
Before his arrival in Brussels to mark NATO’s 75th anniversary, Kuleba said: “Seven Patriot systems would be optimal, but let me be modest.”
“With five Patriot batteries we will be able to defend the main industrial cities against Russian missiles.”
Along with the United States, the Netherlands and Germany have also shipped several of the systems, estimated to cost around $1 billion each.
“And once we have eliminated the threat, the Patriots will return to where they were stationed,” he added.
Kuleba has also demanded that “all Patriot batteries in the world that can be delivered to Ukraine must be delivered to Ukraine.”
He added that the country is currently the only one in the world that is forced to defend itself against ballistic missile attacks almost every day.
Following their meeting with their Polish counterpart Radek Sikorski in Brussels, NATO foreign ministers are now discussing a five-year, $100 billion military aid package for Ukraine.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary general, told reporters on Wednesday: “What is obvious is that we need more money for Ukraine and we will need it for many years.”
“That is one of the reasons why the Ukrainians have to ration the number of artillery shells, why they have trouble confronting Russian forces with overwhelming military power because they are able to overcome them with more ammunition and more artillery.” .
Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky warned that tyrant Putin is making preparations for a major offensive in June and plans to mobilize 300,000 troops.
Senior officials also told Politico that Putin is ready to launch a “major attack around August,” but admitted it could happen even sooner, which could plunge Ukraine into a crisis if they are not prepared.
One of the military sources, who remained anonymous, told the news website: “There is nothing that can help Ukraine now because there are no serious technologies capable of compensating Ukraine for the large mass of troops that Russia will likely throw at us.”
“We don’t have those technologies and the West doesn’t have them in sufficient quantities either.”
In an attempt to overcome the potentially large-scale hurdle, Zelensky has lowered the minimum age for military conscription from 27 to 25 in hopes of boosting Ukraine’s fighting strength.