World News | Pentagon says allies will band together to train Ukrainians on F-16s, but warns jets are not ‘magic weapons’

WASHINGTON, May 25 (AP) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that European allies are working on a coordinated plan to train the Ukrainian military in the use of F-16 fighter jets, but Pentagon leaders warned that it would be A costly and complex undertaking that will not succeed. This is not a panacea for solving wars.

Allies recognize that, in addition to training, Ukraine needs to be able to maintain and maintain the aircraft and have enough ammunition, Austin said. He said the air defense system remained the weapon Ukraine needed most in its broader efforts to control its airspace.

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“There is no magic weapon,” Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said alongside Austin at a Pentagon news conference. Providing 10 F-16s could cost $2 billion, including maintenance, he said.

“The Russians have a thousand fourth-generation and fifth-generation aircraft, so if you’re going to take on Russia in the air, you’re going to need a lot of fourth-generation and fifth-generation aircraft.”

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Therefore, he said, the allies were right to first provide Ukraine with a large number of integrated air defense systems to cover the battlespace. He said the F-16 would function as part of Ukraine’s air power in the future, but “it will take a considerable amount of time to build an air force of the size, scope and size that is required.”

The defense ministers of the Netherlands and Denmark are working with the United States on the effort, and Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have offered to contribute to the training, Austin said. Additionally, he said allies would set up a fund so other countries could contribute to the overall effort.

“We look forward to more countries joining this important initiative,” Austin said, adding that the training was “an important example of our long-term commitment to Ukraine’s security.”

Austin said earlier in the day that he hoped to start training Ukrainian pilots on U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets in the coming weeks, which would strengthen Ukraine in the long run, but not necessarily the expected spring counterattack against Russia. a part of.

Austin and Milley spoke at the conclusion of a virtual meeting of defense leaders around the world to discuss continued military support for Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader gave them an update on the war effort and the military gap the troops are facing. The biggest gap remains ground-based air defense, Austin said.

Leaders at the 12th meeting heard about preparations for an expected counteroffensive and discussed how allies, facing pressure on their own stocks, could continue to support Kiev in its fight against Russia.

“We’re going to have to dig deep, and we’re going to have to keep finding creative ways to increase our industrial capabilities,” Austin said before military leaders began a closed-door meeting. “The stakes are high. But the cause is just and our will is strong.”

European leaders said they were discussing which countries might have some of the F-16s. The U.S. has long been reluctant to supply Ukraine with advanced aircraft, and it was only this weekend that President Joe Biden agreed to allow other countries to send their own U.S.-made jets to Kiev.

“We expect this training to begin in the next few weeks,” Austin said. “In the long run, this will further strengthen and enhance the capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force. It will complement our short- and medium-term security agreements. This new joint effort sends a powerful message that we are united and committed to long-term self-defense of Ukraine.”

European allies have been voicing support for the fighter training in recent days.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday that Poland and some other countries had started training Ukrainian pilots, although Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blašczak said the training was still in the planning stages. Countries such as the Netherlands and Denmark are also developing training programmes.

“We can continue and finalize the plans we have with Denmark and other allies to start these trainings. Of course, this is the first step you have to take,” Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said.

Ukraine has long been searching for advanced fighter jets to give it a combat advantage when battling a Russian aggression, now in its second year.

The decision came in a sharp reversal after the Biden administration refused to approve any aircraft transfers or conduct training for more than a year, fearing that doing so would heighten tensions with Russia.

U.S. officials have also opposed the F-16, saying learning to fly and logistically supporting such an advanced aircraft will be difficult and take months. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)