美國空軍已將退役的F-16戰鬥機轉移至烏克蘭,以提供歐洲夥伴已捐贈的飛機備件,據《戰爭地帶》於5月1日報導。
根據空軍發言人表示,美國空軍部「通過向烏克蘭提供已停用且完全無法運作的F-16戰機作為零件,支持歐洲捐贈的F-16戰機的持續維護。」
這些從美國服役退役的飛機無法飛行,且缺乏引擎和雷達等關鍵部件,使其無法用於作戰任務。
據報導,於4月26日,這些被拆卸的F-16機身被裝載到一架從亞利桑那州圖森國際機場起飛的An-124貨運飛機上,飛往波蘭熱舒夫-亞森卡機場,該機場是西方對烏克蘭軍事援助的關鍵物流中心。
多個歐洲盟友已承諾向烏克蘭提供可運作的F-16戰機。
荷蘭承諾提供24架飛機,丹麥承諾19架,並於2024年開始初步交付,挪威承諾提供6至22架。比利時也宣布有意提供F-16戰機,但具體數量尚未公開。
F-16戰機於1970年代末推出,目前由二十多個國家使用,能執行空對空作戰和精確地面打擊。
在烏克蘭,這些戰機用於攔截俄羅斯導彈和無人機,並提供進攻能力,針對前線的俄羅斯陣地。
烏克蘭總參謀部於2024年8月29日報導,一架F-16戰鬥機在抵禦大規模俄羅斯導彈攻擊時墜毀。
據軍方表示,這架飛機在墜毀前擊落了四枚俄羅斯巡航導彈,展示了官方所描述的「高效能」。
The U.S. Air Force has transferred decommissioned F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to supply spare parts for aircraft already donated by European partners, the War Zone reported on May 1.
According to an Air Force spokesperson, the U.S. Department of the Air Force "has supported the sustainment of European-donated F-16s to Ukraine by providing disused and completely non-operational F-16s to Ukraine for parts."
The aircraft, retired from U.S. service, are non-flyable and lack critical components such as engines and radars, making them unusable for operational missions.
On April 26, these stripped-down F-16 airframes were reportedly loaded onto an An-124 cargo plane that departed from Tucson International Airport in Arizona to Poland's Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport, a key logistics hub for Western military assistance to Ukraine.
Several European allies have committed to supplying Ukraine with operational F-16s.
The Netherlands has pledged 24 aircraft, Denmark has promised 19, with initial deliveries made in 2024, and Norway has pledged between 6 and 22 jets. Belgium has also announced its intent to provide F-16s, though specific numbers remain undisclosed.
The F-16 introduced in the late 1970s, is operated by over two dozen countries and is capable of both air-to-air combat and precision ground strikes.
In Ukraine, they are used to intercept Russian missiles and drones and provide offensive capabilities to target Russian positions along the front line.
Ukraine's General Staff reported on Aug. 29, 2024, that an F-16 fighter jet crashed while repelling a large-scale Russian missile attack.
According to the military, the aircraft shot down four Russian cruise missiles before going down, demonstrating what officials described as its "high efficiency."
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