Ukraine’s prime minister on Wednesday reiterated a request for the U.S. to provide Kyiv with fighter jets, specifically F-15 or F-16 aircraft, during remarks at the top of a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
“To defend ourselves and defend Europe, we need more heavy equipment but also aircraft,” said Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine’s prime minister, according to a transcript of his remarks at the Pentagon. “In modern warfare, air superiority is crucial. That is why Ukraine is initiating the building of a new so-called fighter jet coalition and we are inviting the United States to become its most important participant. America can, once again, demonstrate its leadership by providing Ukraine with F-15 or F-16 aircrafts.”
Colin Kahl, under secretary of defense for policy, has previously addressed the U.S.’ decision not to include fighter aircraft in security assistance packages for Ukraine, telling lawmakers the systems are not among the top three priorities the country needs in its war against Russia and the costs of these systems have to be weighed against nearer term needs (Defense Daily, Feb. 28).
During a House Armed Services Committee hearing in late February, Kahl said Ukraine has asked for upward of 128 U.S.-made 4th generation fighter aircraft, to include a mix of F-15s, F-16s and F/A-18s.
“[F-16s are] a priority for the Ukrainians, but it’s not one of their top three priorities.” Ukraine’s top three priorities are air defenses, including the network and interceptors such as Patriot and Stingers, artillery and related fires, and armor and mechanized systems such as tanks, Bradley and Stryker fighting vehicles for maneuver,” Kahl said.
Poland and Slovakia recently announced plans to provide Ukraine with Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets.
Along with the call for fighter aircraft, Shmyhal also cited Ukraine’s continued request for longer-range missile systems.
“We will win this war. But to achieve it faster and with fewer casualties, Ukraine still needs intensive military support, more air defense systems that minimize the impact of Russian air strikes, more heavy artillery, mortars and ammunition for them. We also ask you [to] reconsider the possibility of providing Ukraine with longer-range missiles,” Shmyhal said.
While the U.S. has been delivering GMLRS rockets for the HIMARS launchers it has provided to Ukraine, it has yet to commit to sending longer-range ATACMS missiles.
“In terms of [ATACMS], but again with other capabilities as well, we’re looking at what the battlefield needs are. And it’s our assessment that, with the existing GMLRS capability that they have on the HIMARS and that we’re providing more of with this package, they can reach the vast majority of targets on the battlefield,” Laura Cooper, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasian affairs, told reporters in October (Defense Daily, Oct. 4 2022).
ATACMS can reach out to 300 kilometers, more than three times the ability of GMLRS’ max range. Lockheed Martin [LMT] builds the two munitions as well the HIMARS launchers.
Shmyhal on Wednesday also noted the U.S.’ plans to provide Ukraine with Abrams tanks as well as Bradley and Stryker vehicles, while adding Kyiv will “require an increase in such supplies” for its planned counterattack.
The Pentagon last month detailed plans to accelerate its timeline for delivering Abrams tanks to Ukraine, with an aim to provide refurbished M1A1 platforms by this fall (Defense Daily, March 21).
Austin on Wednesday noted the U.S. has provided Ukraine with “tens of billions of dollars” in weapons aid, with Shmyhal also noting the Pentagon’s efforts leading the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to help coordinate security assistance efforts for more than 50 countries.
“Together with our allies and partners, we have delivered HIMARS and howitzers, NASAMS and IRIS-Ts, Strykers and Leopards and many other systems. And that has made a clear and direct difference on the battlefield,” Austin said. “So, I’m confident that we will meet Ukraine’s defense needs through this spring and beyond. And as the president has repeatedly made clear, we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.”