US approves $226 million support package for Ukraine’s F-16s
F-16s have been pledged to Ukraine by several European countries. (Photo: By Airwolfhound from Hertfordshire, UK/Wikimedia Commons)
The $266 million Foreign Military Sale was approved by the Pentagon to boost the country’s F-16 fighter jets.
The US State Department has approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Ukraine for F-16 maintenance equipment and support, according to an announcement from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
The US$226 million contract includes Joint Mission Planning software, minor modifications and maintenance support, spare and repair parts, software, personnel training and training equipment.
The sale would help to “improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defence and regional security missions with a more robust air defence capability,” the DSCA said.
Related Articles
Will F-16s and Mirage 2000s have a major impact on Ukraine’s counter-attack?
The main contractors for the work will be Sabena, Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney.
Ukraine confirmed the arrival of the F-16 jets in August 2024, with the country’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirming the jets were operational. So far, the Netherlands and Denmark have supplied the F-16 jets, with more promised from Norway and Belgium.
Zelenskyy confirmed on 7 December 2024 that Ukraine had received its second batch of jets from Denmark.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Finland secures possible $1.07 billion AMRAAM deal with US State Department]()
Finland secures possible $1.07 billion AMRAAM deal with US State Department
The Nordic country is set to bolster its defence capabilities after its foreign military sales request for AIM-120D-3 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAMs) was approved.
-
![DSEI 2025: UK launches Project Octopus to deliver thousands of interceptor drones to Ukraine]()
DSEI 2025: UK launches Project Octopus to deliver thousands of interceptor drones to Ukraine
The programme will work to build and deploy the drones to Ukraine to support its fight against Russia, coming a day after Poland shot down 19 Russian drones in its airspace.
-
![DSEI 2025: NATO members evaluate Black Widow UAV as it joins NSPA catalogue]()
DSEI 2025: NATO members evaluate Black Widow UAV as it joins NSPA catalogue
The addition of Red Cat’s Black Widow to NATO’s NSPA catalogue opens the doors for allied forces to more easily procure the AI-enabled drone.
-
![DSEI 2025: New AR3 EVO puts Tekever’s modularity ambitions under the spotlight]()
DSEI 2025: New AR3 EVO puts Tekever’s modularity ambitions under the spotlight
An evolution of the Tekever AR3, the AR3 EVO that broke cover at DSEI incorporates the thousands of incremental evolutions the company has implemented through its spiral development, geared towards delivering a constant stream of improved aircraft to Ukraine.
-
![DSEI 2025: Schiebel reveals two weaponised Camcopter UAVs]()
DSEI 2025: Schiebel reveals two weaponised Camcopter UAVs
The new capabilities are based on platforms already in use or in development, and are designed to perform in demanding defence missions.
