After F-16 delivery, Ukraine will need even more Patriot air defense systems – Ukrainian serviceman Lapin

He expressed this opinion on the Espreso TV channel.

"In addition to air defense systems from our partners, which will strengthen our ability to provide air cover, we also need aircraft. After all, it is an aircraft that can shoot down enemy aviation, missiles and UAVs. To make a breakthrough in this war, we need more than 200 F-16 fighters. Given the world's stocks of these aircraft, the issue of supplying F-16s to Ukraine is only a matter of political decision," explained Lapin.

The military officer emphasized that Ukraine needs more Patriot air defense systems

"However, I need to point out that every airfield where such aircraft will be deployed must be protected from Russian ballistic missiles. And here we come back to the Patriot air defense systems. The issue of supplying the aircraft to Ukraine is one problem. However, protecting the deployment of such aircraft will be no less of a problem for us. That is why we need more air defense systems," he added.

• On March 15, Politico reported that US senators demanded that Ukraine receive F-16 fighter jets. In their appeal, the officials noted that the war with Russia is now "at a critical stage" and that the fighter jets could be an advantage for Kyiv.

• Two pilots from Ukraine were in the United States at a military base, where their flying skills were evaluated on simulators, including F-16s.

• On April 18, the German government announced that over the past week it has handed over a Patriot air defense system with missiles and special vehicles to Ukraine. The next day, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov confirmed that they had already arrived in Ukraine.