This was stated by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley at a press conference on the occasion of the closing of the Ramstein meeting.
According to the top US general, one of the key issues in providing Ukraine with F-16s is ensuring airspace control.
He stated that the most efficient and cheapest method to safeguard airspace involves employing ground-based air defense systems. It allows to effectively counter any attempts by Russian forces to establish dominance in the air. This approach has been the primary focus and continues to yield positive results, according to Milley.
He added that the partners understand how many aircraft are needed to cover the Ukrainian sky. After all, Russians will know that such aircraft are present and will strike in the air.
Regarding the F-16, the cost of 10 planes amounts to a billion dollars, with an additional billion dollars allocated for their maintenance expenses.
“So, you're talking about $2 billion for 10 aircraft. The Russians have thousands of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. So, if you're going to contest Russia in the air, you're going to need a substantial amount of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters," Milley explained.
He added that given the current situation, F-16s are not a panacea or a magic wand.
The general emphasized that if the focus were on acquiring F-16s, which Ukraine has been requesting for an extended period, resources allocated to the procurement of Bradley or Abrams would be redirected. The military assistance provided to Ukraine is carefully tailored, with each package incorporating additional elements to bolster its defense capabilities. The ongoing consideration of this matter underscores the US’ commitment to enhancing Ukraine's military strength, the general said.
He also pointed out that in the future, F-16s will play a role in the Ukrainian Air Force, but it will take a considerable amount of time to build up the air force of the required size and capacity.
During the Ramstein meeting, officials reported that the coalition to train the Ukrainian Armed Forces with F-16s would be led by Denmark and the Netherlands and would include 4 other countries: Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland.