Oleksiy Reznikov: Receiving F-16 fighters will take at least six months, but a longer period is possible

Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has said that the process of receiving American F-16 fighter jets will take at least six to seven months. He made this statement during a meeting with journalists, as quoted by the We-Ukraine TV channel.

According to Reznikov, 11 countries have already joined the aviation coalition supporting Ukraine. However, new countries can also join this coalition and express their readiness to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets if the need arises.

Reznikov emphasized that it is not only the aircraft itself that is important, but also the preparation of the appropriate infrastructure for its operation. He noted that in addition to training pilots, it is also necessary to train engineers who will be responsible for the maintenance of these fighters. Reznikov emphasized that this process could take about 6-7 months, but it could also take longer.

The Minister gave examples of successful rapid training of the Ukrainian military. In particular, the Ukrainian military completed missile defense training in 10 weeks instead of the previously planned 10 months, and learned to operate 155 mm artillery in three weeks instead of three months.

"This confirms that the military is ready to overcome challenges and learn effectively and quickly. Therefore, I am confident that F-16 fighters in the Ukrainian sky will help liberate Ukrainian territories," the Defense Minister said.