u.s. decision on F‑16 sales to colombia alarms ukrainians
The Defence Express portal reports that the United States is considering selling used F-16 fighters to Colombia, originating from an undisclosed country. Ukrainian journalists express concern that this may involve a European nation, thereby reducing the number of aircraft available to Kyiv.
This recalls a situation from earlier in 2023, when, with U.S. approval, 24 F-16 fighters retired from the Danish armed forces were sent to Argentina. Defence Express noted that the latest reports "do not sound positive for Ukraine."
ukrainians are worried about F-16 deliveries
Colombia is said to have received an offer for eight used F-16s equipped with Mid-Life Update (MLU) packages, similar to those the "air coalition" pledged to supply to Ukraine.
Thanks to the MLU, the F-16 fighters have undergone upgrades, including avionics modifications and enhanced radar with active phased array scanning. These updates allow for a more diverse arsenal, including AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles with a range of over 100 kilometres.
The F-16s, whose production began in 1976, significantly outperform the capabilities of the aircraft the Ukrainian Air Force had before the war. These Lockheed Martin machines are nearly 15 metres long and can reach speeds of up to Mach 2 (over 2,090 kilometres per hour). One Ukrainian pilot, describing his experience with the F-16, told CNN that they are as precise as a "Swiss Army knife."
what are the USA planning?
The Defence Express portal suggests that the fighters for Colombia are most likely to come from Europe, where the MLU package versions prevail. It is these countries from the Old Continent that are the donors of the F-16s for Ukraine. Ukrainian journalists have straightforwardly stated that "there is a real threat that the plan to receive 19 aircraft from Denmark, 30 from Belgium, 24 from the Netherlands, and 6 from Norway may no longer be adjusted to Kyiv's advantage."
Regarding the United States' involvement with the Colombian Air Force, the White House administration's reluctance to allow competitors into the South American market is noteworthy. In Argentina's case, there were concerns about a potential contract with China, while Colombia has shown interest in fighters from Sweden.
