Ukraine Military Secures 20 Additional Fighter Jets Supported by Western Parts Assistance

by Lee Kimin

Published 21 Apr.2022 17:43(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Ukrainian Air Force has secured an additional 20 fighter jets with parts support from Western countries, major foreign media outlets including CNN and The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 20th (local time).

A senior official from the U.S. Department of Defense stated, "Countries including the United States participated in the parts support operation," but did not disclose the names of other countries that provided parts.

Previously, on the day before, John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, retracted his statement after saying Ukraine received fighter jets from a certain Western country, clarifying, "It was not fighter jets but fighter jet parts that were provided. These parts enabled the operation of fighter jets that Ukraine already possessed but could not use."

The Ukrainian Air Force also tweeted, "With the help of the U.S. government, the Ukrainian Air Force received spare parts for (fighter jets)," adding, "The parts will be used to repair aircraft in the air wing. As a result, more aircraft can be deployed."

CNN reported that the Ukrainian Air Force is responsible for its country's air defense network along with Soviet-made surface-to-air missile S-300s and man-portable air-defense systems, and despite persistent attacks by Russia on military bases, the damage to the Ukrainian Air Force has not been significant.

Western countries continue to provide Ukraine with various weapons in addition to aircraft parts. Previously, a weapons support package worth $800 million (990 billion KRW) approved by U.S. President Joe Biden included 155mm howitzers, 40,000 rounds of ammunition, and 11 Soviet-era MiG-17 helicopters.

According to reports, the United States has also conducted training programs in countries near Ukraine to instruct Ukrainian forces on how to use the weapons.

Germany announced it has delivered anti-tank weapons and Stinger surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine, while the United Kingdom promised a defense support package worth $130 million (approximately 160.9 billion KRW) this month, including anti-tank and surface-to-air missiles and non-lethal military equipment. Norway also decided to provide 100 short-range missiles and lightweight anti-tank weapons.

Amal Kotlarski, senior researcher at the defense intelligence analysis organization Jane's, said, "Continuous weapons support, especially anti-tank weapons and short-range surface-to-air missiles, is what enables Ukraine to keep fighting."

The Washington Post reported that as Russia is expected to concentrate firepower in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, Western countries have begun providing some advanced weapons to Ukraine.