Today at 14:46
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine spoke about how an F-16 shot down a Russian fighter jet for the first time in aerial combat during the Russo-Ukrainian war.
He said this during hearings before the Senate Appropriations Committee, UATV English reports.
During the hearings, Caine was asked about the impact on Ukraine of a possible halt to air defense funding over three years.
In response, he spoke about the development of Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
“The incredible work the Ukrainian industrial base is doing involves scaling up its own capabilities. This ranges from their ground-to-air capabilities to their air-to-air capabilities,” he said.
In this context, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke about a recent air battle in which a Ukrainian F-16 destroyed a Russian aircraft.
“Recently we witnessed the first air-to-air engagement in which a Ukrainian F-16 shot down a Russian fighter jet. Over the past several years, with the support of many partners, Ukraine has significantly strengthened its layered defense system,” he said.
As a reminder, in April Norway’s prime minister assured that the first of the F-16s promised by the country for Ukraine would soon be ready to fly.
In June, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said his country had decided to hand over more fighter jets to the Armed Forces of Ukraine than previously promised. According to him, Belgium will transfer seven F-16s this year, four of them for spare parts.
Read also: Russia Launches New Wave of Disinformation Against Residents of Sumy Region on TikTok — CCD
