Transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine: the Pentagon told at what stage this issue is

The Pentagon reported that the issue of transferring fighter jets to Ukraine is under discussion. They explained how much time it might take from making a decision to transferring equipment.

The corresponding statement was made at a briefing on August 24 by the Deputy head of the Pentagon, Colin Kahl. He also told what weapons for aviation the States have already provided to Ukraine.

The Pentagon explained the issue of transferring fighters

Colin Kahl said that the issue the transfer of fourth-generation aircraft to Ukraine is under discussion, but clarified the details.

As for future aircraft, for example fourth generation aircraft, even if we provided them now, they would arrive in just a few years, so we focused on their fighters, what they need to support the ongoing containment efforts in the East and perhaps a counteroffensive,” Kahl explained.

Added that for the United States, the priority in terms of aviation is to ensure the normal use of aircraft that Ukraine already has. After all, the States have already provided Ukraine with adapted HARM missiles, which can be fired from the MiG-29.

“They were certainly not designed to be fired from such aircraft – they were designed for our aircraft, but the Ukrainians in recent weeks have been very effective in using HARM missiles to destroy Russian radar systems,” the deputy head of the Pentagon explained.

Colin Kahl added that the issue of a possible transfer of fighters to Ukraine is being discussed, although no final decisions have been made on this matter.

However, it is known that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin instructed his office to work with the Joint Staff and the European Command to form the future picture of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the medium and long term.

This should be systems that Ukraine itself will be able to support. But I can tell you that the fighters remain on the negotiating table, it’s just that final decisions on this matter have not been made,” Kahl summed up.

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine told what kind of aviation they need

• Speaker of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuriy Ignat said that we need planes already today, first of all, to independently close the Ukrainian sky.
• The Armed Forces of Ukraine need multi-role fighters to dismiss the temporarily occupied regions and control the sky over Ukraine.
• Yuri Ignat said that fighters would help in the fight not only in the air, but also on the ground. He added that Western equipment and weapons will help the Ukrainian military, first of all, to destroy the enemy's air defense.