Ukrainian aviation will be able to fire AMRAAM missiles at a distance of 160-180 km, the Pentagon has ordered such weapons for the Defence Forces, states Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat during a telethon.
"This is enough to reach Russian aircraft without entering the enemy air defence zone. The farther, the safer it is for our pilots and the more dangerous it is for our enemies," Ihnat said.
He noted that ammunition for aviation needs to be produced and supplied, as aircraft need to constantly replenish their ammunition.
AMRAAM is an air-to-air missile with an active homing head - these missiles are already used in Ukraine on NASAMS air defence systems.
"This missile is used from the air at a long range, because it is launched from an air platform, while the range of destruction from a ground is not so high. It will be used to destroy all types of air targets, except ballistics," he emphasised.
Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov says that the Ukrainian army will start using F-16 fighters next spring.