has provided the capability to fire air-to-air missiles from aircraft, however. The Pentagon has also sent the Joint Direct Attack Munition, which converts air-launched munitions into smart bombs.īut integrating the AIM-120s with MiGs would be the first time the U.S. has already provided Kyiv air-to-ground missiles, such as the AGM-88B High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile, which can be attached to the MiGs and used against ground targets such as radars and air defense systems. Officials are looking for more creative solutions to fill that gap.

to do an assessment of their skills on simulators at an Air National Guard base in Tucson, Ariz., but officials said they will not fly American aircraft. Ukraine has been pushing for modern fighter jets for the conflict, among other things to help with air defense, but so far there is little appetite among Western leaders to send more advanced aircraft such as the F-16. Officials are concerned that Ukraine is running low on air defenses as Russia continues missile attacks and even sends decoy balloons with radar reflectors to deplete Ukrainian missiles. military officials believe Kyiv is looking to mount its offensive in the next six to eight weeks as the weather warms up and Ukrainian forces finish their training on combined arms maneuver tactics in Germany, the DoD officials said. Senior American generals hosted Ukrainian military officials last week in Wiesbaden, Germany, for a set of tabletop exercises to help Kyiv get ready for the next stage of the war. The effort, if successful, could be part of a solution to Kyiv’s need for additional firepower and air defenses as both Ukraine and Russia prepare for major offensives this spring.

Aim 120 c range