Specific timelines for the F-16s' delivery to Ukraine remain undisclosed. This was shared by Ilya Yevlash, a spokesperson for the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, during a Radio Svoboda interview.
Yevlash highlighted that two cohorts of Ukrainian pilots are nearing the completion of their F-16 training programs. He emphasized that the deployment of these aircraft in Ukrainian airspace is intended to catch the adversary off guard, thus avoiding the release of any precise schedules.
"Two groups are sharpening their aerial skills on the F-16 in Denmark and the US, accumulating flight hours. Obviously, this represents one of the concluding phases of their training. The exact timing of the aircraft's handover and their appearance over Ukraine is intended to remain a secret to surprise the enemy," the Air Force spokesperson stated.
Furthermore, Yevlash mentioned that the acquisition of F-16 jets would enable Ukraine to intercept not just Russian planes that attack front-line and border regions with bombs but also the missiles launched at civilian areas by the aggressors.
