Britain says it will refuse a request from Ukraine for advanced fighter jets with which to battle Russia, saying it is not ‘practical’.
No10 today said it was not planning to send RAF Typhoon or F-35 fighters to Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces because it would take too long to train pilots to fly them.
The Ukrainian air force is currently equipped with Soviet-era Russian fighters, mainly the Mig-29, which first flew in 1977.
But president Zelensky is seeking newer western fighter jets which can reach speeds of more than 1,200mph – adding to nearly $30 billion in military and security assistance since Russia’s invasion on February 24.
But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said it was ‘not currently practical’ to send RAF jets.
‘The UK’s Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets are extremely sophisticated and take months to learn how to fly. Given that we believe it is not practically to send those jets into Ukraine,’ he said
‘Obviously we will continue to provide and accelerate our military support to Ukraine and listen carefully to their requests.’
The Ukrainian air force is currently equipped with Soviet-era Russian fighters, mainly the Mig-29, which first flew in 1977.
