U.S. to arm Ukraine’s F-16s with advanced weapons

The U.S. has agreed to arm dozens of F-16 fighter jets being sent to Ukraine with American-made missiles.

The Wall Street Journal reported on this.

The United States will provide the F-16 with armament including AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles, long-range JDAMs that turn unguided bombs into smart weapons, and GBU bombs.

The United States will supply the fighter jets with advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, known as AMRAAM, and short-range air-to-air missiles, known as AIM-9X.

The sources of The Wall Street Journal refused to name specific dates for the transfer of F-16s and their weapons to Ukraine for security reasons.

According to a senior U.S. official, although the Pentagon has limited stockpiles and production capabilities, it will supply precision-guided missiles and advanced missiles to the F-16 in sufficient quantities to meet Ukraine’s most urgent needs.

“We are confident that we will be able to supply all of those [weapons], at least the critical volumes that they need,” the U.S. official said.

On July 10, the leaders of the United States, Denmark, and the Netherlands, Joe Biden, Mette Frederiksen, and Dick Schoof, who head the so-called Fighter Coalition, confirmed that Ukraine will receive its first F-16s during the summer.

According to Bloomberg, Ukraine expects to receive six F-16s from its Western partners this summer and up to 20 fighter jets in total by the end of the year.

The Ukrainian Air Force is already using AGM-88 HARM missiles, JDAM bombs, and GBU bombs.

The Ukrainian Air Force adapted Soviet-era combat aircraft to use American GBU-39 bombs.

AMRAAM and AIM-9 missiles are used in Ukraine’s ground-based air defense systems.