The first multi-role fighter aircraft F-16 who persistently asked for Kiev arrived at Ukraineaccording to a US official and the Lithuanian foreign minister, as the Ukrainian political and military leadership seeks to bolster its Air Force, which has suffered losses in the two and a half years of war.

The F-16s (Lockheed Martin) were high on the list of weapons that the Ukrainian government wanted its Western allies to supply, due to their capabilities and wide international availability.

The multi-role fighter, equipped with a 20 mm gun, can employ a very wide range of weapons.

“F-16 in Ukraine. Another impossible thing that turned out to be completely possible,” Lithuanian minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said with satisfaction via X.

A US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the delivery of the first batch of fighters had been completed.

As of this stage, the Ukrainian Air Force has not responded to Reuters’ request for comment.

Denmark has pledged to donate 16 fighters of the type, the Netherlands another 24. Norway plans to donate another 6. The Danish and Dutch governments have spearheaded the formation of a “coalition” to supply the aircraft to Kiev. In total, the Ukrainian government is seeking the surrender of more than 100 so it can regain what it says is air superiority.

Dozens of operators and ground staff have been trained by Ukraine’s Western allies in recent months.

The Ukrainian armed forces have relied on a — comparatively small — fleet of Soviet-era jets in the war so far, and Kiev sees the procurement of the F-16s as a vital upgrade for the Ukrainian Air Force.

Analysts and officials, however, point out that by themselves, the F-16s will not change the course of the war, which broke out when Russian troops invaded in late February 2022.