Moscow, July 18— Russian company Fores has announced a significant reward for the first Russian military personnel to destroy a US-made F-16 fighter jet. The company has pledged 15 million Russian rubles (approximately $170,000) to the successful team. This announcement was confirmed in reports by the Hindustan Times and Perstoday on Wednesday.

This move comes as the United States, Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands have committed to delivering at least 60 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The initial batch of these advanced fighters has already begun to arrive from Denmark and the Netherlands, with the expectation that the F-16s will be operational in Ukraine by this summer.

Ilya Potanin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Fores, emphasized the special incentives for downing F-15 and F-16 fighter jets in a video message released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday. This echoes a previous announcement by the CEO of Fores at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where similar rewards were promised for destroying Western military equipment.

Since the onset of the conflict with Russia, Ukraine has been advocating for advanced F-16 fighter jets from the US. Ukrainian pilots are currently undergoing training to operate these jets at various bases in France and Britain.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently warned NATO against supplying F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. In a speech earlier this year, Putin argued that while these aircraft would not alter the battlefield dynamics, their potential to carry nuclear weapons must be considered in Russia's military strategies. He cautioned that any NATO country supporting F-16 operations over Ukraine would face Russian retaliation, stressing the risks of underestimating Russia's response.

Despite initial hesitations from NATO following Putin's warnings, the alliance has since resumed its commitment to supplying Ukraine with F-16s.

The announcement from Fores underscores the heightened tensions and stakes in the ongoing conflict, as both sides prepare for the deployment of these advanced fighter jets in Ukraine.