The US military is exploring the possibility of installing advanced AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missiles on Soviet-era Ukrainian fighters. The newspaper reported Politico with reference to sources.
According to the sources of the publication, there are a number of technical difficulties in integrating the AIM-120 with Ukrainian fighters. No other details are given.
AIM-120s are used on Western fighters, including American F-16s. If the missiles can be used on Ukrainian fighter jets, this will be the first time that the United States will allow Ukraine to use Western air-to-air missiles, Politico notes.
Previously, the United States has repeatedly refused to supply F-16 fighters requested by Ukraine. The White House believes that the transfer of fighters is a matter of the long term. On March 5, NBC reported that two Ukrainian pilots had arrived in the US to evaluate their skills in flying combat aircraft. According to CNN, the US is testing Ukrainian pilots to see how long it will take to train them to fly the F-16.
