According to Tannehill, the Ukrainian army needs such aircraft to launch American JASSM air-to-ground cruise missiles towards the Russian Crimea.
At the same time, the expert clarified that for this it is necessary to carry out a "complex set of preparations" for the use of American aircraft by Kiev.
Tannehill explained that it is necessary to create supply chains for the supply of aircraft to Kyiv. In addition, it is necessary that a number of Western countries agree to part with a significant part of their F-16 stockpiles, he said.
He also drew attention to the fact that Ukrainian pilots should be trained, and runways in Ukraine should be improved.
Earlier, the head of EU European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that a number of EU countries, including Poland, had begun training Ukrainian pilots to work on F-16 fighters.
On May 21, United States President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United States, together with its allies, would begin training pilots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including on F-16 fighters.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the supply of F-16s to Kyiv a new stage in the escalation of the conflict.
Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum held there in March 2014: the majority of residents voted in favor of reunification with Russia.
The Kremlin has repeatedly stressed that Crimea is an integral part of Russia and claims to Russian territory will receive a proper response.