US defence manufacturer Lockheed Martin has said it stands ready to help Ukrainian pilots fly and maintain its F-16 fighter jets if NATO states agree to send them to help the country against Russian aggression.

According to Financial Times, any decision would be made only as a result of discussions between Ukraine, the US and other western allies.

"We are standing by, ready to not only backfill need as it arises with new F-16 builds but also any modifications to F-16s as well as training, equipment and systems," said Frank Saint John, Lockheed Martin chief operating officer.

St John, who was speaking on the eve of the first Paris Air Show since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly 16 months ago, said Ukraine's armed forces had shown an "incredible learning aptitude". Lockheed weapons, including the guided multiple launch rocket system (GMLRS) and Javelin missiles, have played a prominent role on the battlefield.

"The Ukrainians rapidly mastered the use of those systems and employed them with great effectiveness so I am very confident that Ukrainian pilots are going to master the F-16 and be able to use it very effectively in short order," Saint John added.

Although any immediate training and support would take place in a third-party country, Lockheed could in the long term consider setting up a base in or close to Ukraine once the conflict ends.

The issue of providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets was discussed within the framework of the Defence Contact Group of Ukraine (Ramstein format) last week.

After the meeting, it became known that by July, Ukraine's partners plan to approve a training program for Ukrainian pilots, engineers, and technicians on the F-16, and the training itself will take place at a specially created center in one of the European countries.