Reuters: Pentagon finally allows US contractors to repair F-16s, Patriots in Ukraine amid major policy shift

The outgoing Biden administration has authorized US defense contractors to maintain and repair Pentagon-supplied weapons systems in Ukraine, including F-16 jets and Patriot missile systems, marking a significant shift in US support policy.

While the US has provided Ukraine with tens of billions in military aid since Russia’s 2022 invasion, maintenance of this equipment previously required moving systems out of the country or relying on remote assistance. The new policy aims to address the growing number of damaged, unused equipment and streamline repairs of increasingly sophisticated weapons systems.

US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that contractors would be:

• Small in number
• Located far from combat zones
• Not engaged in combat operations
• Responsible for their own safety and risk management
• Operating without US military protection.

The move aligns the Pentagon with other US agencies, including the State Department and USAID, which already have contractors in Ukraine. Officials noted that given the existing presence of American companies operating under Ukrainian government contracts, this change would not significantly increase the US civilian presence in the country.

One official said they would help ensure US-provided equipment “can be rapidly repaired when damaged and be provided maintenance as needed. ”

This policy shift comes at a critical juncture, as Russian forces advance at their fastest pace since early 2022, while Ukraine has launched its first major incursion into Russian territory. Meanwhile, President-elect Trump has pledged to end the war quickly and has questioned the scale of US support for Kyiv, though without specifying how. The Biden administration has maintained restrictions on Ukraine’s use of US-provided weapons for deep strikes into Russia despite Kyiv’s requests for such capability.

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