Umerov confirmed that Ukraine has already secured commitments for the delivery of F-16 fighter jets and reached an agreement to receive Mirage jets, with discussions ongoing for the potential delivery of Gripen and Eurofighter aircraft.
“We already have commitments from partners for the F-16s, an agreement for the Mirage jets, and are in consultations regarding the Gripen and Eurofighter fighters. It’s a strong lineup of platforms, and we will share more details once everything is finalised,” Umerov stated.
The Defence Minister emphasised that strengthening Ukraine’s air defence is a top priority. “We have made our needs clear to our partners, stressing the critical nature of this issue. Our focus is now on securing the delivery of upgraded and refurbished systems,” Umerov explained.
He highlighted that Russia currently operates approximately 300 planes and up to 300 helicopters, underscoring the importance of expanding Ukraine’s fighter fleet to gain air superiority.
“This year, we are focusing on increasing our fighter fleet to ensure air superiority over Russia. The process is already in motion, but it needs to be accelerated, and we are working with our partners to achieve that,” Umerov added.