EXCLUSIVE: Boosting Kyiv's Fighter Jet Capabilities

FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY — BOOSTING KYIV’S FIGHTER JET CAPABILITIES: A bipartisan group of House members is calling on the U.S. to help Ukraine make the most of the F-16 fighter jets NATO allies donated earlier in the war.

In the letter — led by Rep. JIM COSTA (D-Calif.) and signed by Reps. EUGENE VINDMAN (D-Va.), JIMMY PANETTA (D-Calif.), MIKE QUIGLEY (D-Ill.), DON DAVIS (D-N.C.), DON BACON (R-Neb.), BRIAN FITZPATRICK (R-Penn.) and MICHAEL McCAUL (R-Texas) — the lawmakers call on Air Force Secretary TROY MEINK to increase the number of spots for Ukrainian pilots at training schools in Arizona. It also suggests prioritizing Ukrainian pilots before those of other countries at U.S.-led international training programs.

The House members also call on the U.S. to help Kyiv maintain the planes and allow Ukraine to purchase “low-cost, high-volume counter-drone, counter-cruise missile weapons for their F-16s.”

The letter is the latest expression of concern from prominent congressional allies of Kyiv about the program. Earlier this summer, Sen. MARK KELLY (D-Ariz.) voiced concern that Kyiv wasn’t equipped to maximize the capabilities of its newly obtained F-16 fighter jets.

First reported by Eric Bazail-Emil, POLITICO National Security Daily | Read more at POLITICO National Security Daily.