This risks being seen as direct operational support rather than the simple provision of hardware.
The capability of an F16 may exceed by a very wide margin that of an M16 assault rifle, but both are simple provision of hardware preceded by some training. For F16 this may take 4 months, the M16 4 minutes - safety off, pull the trigger.
It all seems part of a game to message Putin that the West are resolute in their support of Ukraine, it is a war he cannot win, but avoids single major escalation which may provoke a wider Russian response.
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