A U.S Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 555th Fighter Squadron takes flight at Aviano Air Base, Italy, October 24, 2019. The unit performs air and space control and force application roles of counterair, strategic attack, and counterland including interdiction and close-air support in support of the joint, NATO, and combined operations. [U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever]
Key Takeaways:
Ukraine is urgently lobbying the U.S. for modern fighter jets, with top Ukrainian pilots directly advocating in Washington, D.C., to acquire F-15s and F-16s.
Ukrainian pilots emphasize their critical technological disadvantage against Russia's air force, describing engagements with their outdated Soviet-era jets as "almost a suicide mission."
A bipartisan bill has been proposed in the U.S. Congress to train Ukrainian fighter pilots on F-15 and F-16 platforms.
While the U.S. is preparing a new military aid package including advanced air defense, it has not yet committed to providing fighter jets to Ukraine.
Ukraine has stepped up pleas for U.S. fighter jets, as two of the country’s top pilots left combat with Russia to lobby Washington, D.C. lawmakers.
The pilots, who go by callsigns “Juice” and “Moonfish” to protect their identities, say U.S. fighter jets would help level the technological playing field for the Ukrainian Air Force as the Russian invasion enters its fourth month.
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