Ukraine and Lockheed Martin Discussed the Modernization of the F-16

A delegation from the Ukrainian Air Force, led by Commander Lieutenant General Anatoliy Kryvonozhko, held a meeting with representatives of the American company Lockheed Martin. The parties discussed the combat use of Ukrainian F-16s and the prospects for the further development of this aircraft platform.

During the meeting, the Ukrainian delegation briefed Lockheed Martin representatives on the experience of Ukrainian pilots in operating and deploying F-16 fighter jets in combat.

Conor McGuire, Director of F-16 Capability Development, highly commended the Ukrainian military’s use of the fighter jets.

He commended not only the pilots but also all ground aviation personnel who support the aircraft’s operations, and expressed his readiness to help Ukraine enhance the capabilities of its existing fleet.

According to Air Force Commander Anatoliy Kryvonozhko, Ukrainian F-16 pilots have already achieved significant results in destroying aerial targets and striking enemy ground targets.

“Our pilots are using the available F-16s as effectively as possible, despite limited ammunition supplies. Using a variety of weapons, Ukrainian F-16 pilots have already shot down more than 3,150 air targets: 666 cruise missiles and approximately 2,500 UAVs of various types, and have carried out more than 650 airstrikes against enemy ground targets,” noted Lieutenant General Anatoliy Kryvonozhko.

Thus, according to the data cited by the commander, Ukrainian F-16s have destroyed more than 3,150 aerial targets, including cruise missiles and various types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

A separate topic of discussion was the prospect of the Ukrainian Air Force transitioning to new variants of the Fighting Falcon.

Representatives from Lockheed Martin and the Ukrainian delegation discussed, in particular, the possibility of using the F-16 Block 70/72.

This involves the further development of the existing capabilities of Ukraine’s fighter aviation and the potential enhancement of the capabilities of the F-16s already in service with the Ukrainian Air Force.

The Ukrainian Air Force Command reported on the meeting.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian military pilots would soon master the Swedish Gripen E fighter jets. Pilot training in Sweden is currently progressing at a much faster pace than expected.

The European Union has funded the purchase of Swedish Gripen E fighter jets for Ukraine in the amount of 2.5 billion euros. The funds were allocated as part of defense payments under a large-scale EU loan to Ukraine totaling 90 billion euros.

Ukraine and the UK discussed the Gripen, F-16, and new drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Latvia has decided to transfer additional CVR(T)-type armored combat vehicles to Ukraine.

The Swedish government plans to transfer several Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. These include Gripen C and Gripen D variants.