Transfer of F-16 to Ukraine: the company producing the fighter jets commented on the initiative
The company Lockheed Martin, one of the largest defense contractors of the United States, which produces, among others American fighter jets F-16is ready to deliver these aircraft to European and countries that decide to re-export the same fighters to Ukraine.
About this to be Chief Operating Officer of Lockheed Martin, Frank St. John, Financial Times.
Commenting on the possibility of re-exporting the F-16 to Ukraine, St. John admitted that there has been a lot of talk about this possibility recently. The company is not negotiating with other bidders, but plans to expand its F-16 production in Greenville, South Carolina. This allows for the most effective support and rearmament of any country that decides to hand over aircraft to Ukraine.
“Lockheed Martin … is going to ramp up production of the F-16 aircraft to a level where we can effectively support any countries that decide to transfer the aircraft to third parties to help resolve the current conflict.” – he said.
At the same time, the publication reminds, Washington has so far rejected Ukraine’s request to provide it with F-16s – the White House is still afraid of escalation with dew and the idea that the Ukrainian Air Force is using these fighters for strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation. At the same time, the US government must approve the transfer or sale of F-16 to other countries to third countries – in this case, the countries of Europe, Ukraine.
In Europe, they believe that the re-export of F-16 is an excellent option to strengthen Ukraine, if the USA is so afraid of escalation with the Russian Federation. For example, fighter jets can be sent to former Warsaw Pact countries, which, in turn, can reinforce Ukraine with their combat fighter jets of Soviet models.
fully, according to Western media, the Dutch government is ready to mark the transfer of F-16 fighters to Ukrainebut there is one condition.
In addition, the leaders of NATO countries are reviewing the idea, which was abandoned in the first days of a full-scale war – to provide Ukraine with Soviet-era MiG-29 fighters (the Poles offered to transfer them to the Ukrainians), or even surplus American F-16 fighter jets.
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