Ukraine Moves Closer To Acquiring F 15 And F 16 Fighter Jets As Washington Approves Training Program

The US Congress passed a Defense Authorization Act this week that contained a $100 million amendment to help transition Ukraine’s military hardware away from aging Soviet-era technology, which currently includes MiG-29s and Sukhoi jets. “Ukrainian pilots will be taught to fly F-15 and F-16 fighters in the US,” Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration, said on Saturday. “This amendment to the US defense budget bill for fiscal year 2023 was supported by the House of Representatives. It is planned to allocate $100 million for it.” The development revives speculation that Ukraine may be given F-class fighter jets, either from the US or Poland, that fly F-16s as well as Soviet-era MiG fighter jets.