State Department approves $266 million contract to maintain F-16s for Ukraine
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The State Department has authorized the possible sale of systems for F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, as well as maintenance of aircraft, the cost of which is $266 million, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency(DSCA) said on December 10.
"The proposed sale will further the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by enhancing the security of a partner country that is driving political stability and economic progress in Europe," the State Department said.
The document also said that Ukraine had previously made a request to buy fighter aircraft control systems, software (software), spare parts and engines for F-16s from Washington.
The US administration has already informed Congress about these decisions. The legislative body should consider and make a decision on the potential deal with Kiev within 30 days.
Earlier, on December 7, Denmark transferred the second batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The exact number of airplanes is unknown.
Prior to that, on August 27, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (his term expired on May 20) first announced the Ukrainian military's use of the F-16s transferred to Kiev - allegedly to repel drone and missile strikes. One of the fighter jets soon crashed and its pilot was killed.
In the first half of July, Denmark and the Netherlands began transferring F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The arrival of the first planes in the country was reported at the end of the same month. According to The Economist, the Ukrainian army received 10 fighter jets.
Experts have repeatedly noted that the use of F-16s will not change the situation on the battlefield for the Ukrainian troops. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that these fighter jets would be destroyed and would not affect the dynamics of the situation on the front.
Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Kiev against the background of Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.