US delivers F-16s to Ukraine for first time, it was announced how they will be used against Russians

The United States has sent decommissioned F‑16 fighters to Ukraine, which can only be used for spare parts. The aircraft, which were partially disassembled and loaded onto an An‑124 in Arizona, are headed to Poland and then to Ukraine. The planes lack critical components such as engines and radars, making them inoperable for combat. While the U.S. has not officially confirmed the transfer, evidence from photos and flight logs shows the aircraft were transported to Poland’s Rzeszów‑Jasionka Airport, a hub for Western military aid. The U.S. has not supplied operational F‑16s; those are coming from European partners, and the Ukrainian Air Force already has pilots trained on the aircraft. The first French Mirage 2000 fighters were delivered to Ukraine in February 2025.