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The United States agreed to equip dozens of F-16 jet fighters being sent to Ukraine with missiles and other advanced weapons, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing a senior U.S. official. The move is seen as tackling a key issue with aircraft supplied by Western countries.
The weapons include AGM-88 HARM air-to-ground missiles made by RTX’s (NYSE:RTX) Raytheon unit and extended-range versions of Boeing-made (NYSE:BA) Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, which convert unguided bombs to smart weapons. The package also includes what are known as small-diameter bombs with a tight blast radius. The United States also will send advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, known as AMRAAM, and AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles for the jets, also made by Raytheon.
The U.S. Defense Department has limited inventory and ability to produce more of the weapons, but it will supply enough air-to-ground missiles, precision-guidance kits for bombs and advanced air-to-air missiles to help meet Ukraine’s immediate needs, the Journal reported, citing a senior U.S. official.
Denmark and the Netherlands are scheduled to send the first U.S.-made F-16s to Ukraine this summer. Belgium and Norway will send more of the same model of fighter jet later.
These countries and Ukraine claim the F-16s will bolster Kyiv’s military. However, they also are aware that they face hurdles in training pilots, doing maintenance on the planes and finding the best ways to use them.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has made the F-16 since the 1990s, when General Dynamics (GD) sold its aircraft business. The U.S. Air Force bought its last new F-16 in 2005, but the plane is still being made for export.
