Ukraine is putting the first F-16 fighter aircraft provided by Western countries into actual combat.The country is expected to receive 65 F-16 fighters from 2024 to 2025.
For more than two years, Ukrainian leaders have been calling on Western countries to provide it with such an American F-16 war fighter.
However, some people worry that the number of F-16 fighters provided by the West cannot play a significant role in the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Why should I deliver F-16 to Ukraine for so long?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr ZELENSKY, shortly after Russia launched an invasion in February 2022, asked the Western countries to provide U-Speed Fighter F-16 for the first time.Zelezki hopes that these fighters can block Russian fighters outside the airspace of Ukraine and let the Ukraine troops have air control.
Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, which proposed that they were willing to donate some F-16 fighters purchased from the United States.
However, US President Joe Biden is worried that supplying such advanced and powerful planes to Ukraine will anger Russia.It was not until August 2023 that he allowed European countries to export these fighters for the second time.
These four countries are delivering F-16 fighters to Ukraine to use more advanced F-35 fighters for their own troops.
The first F-16 fighter (it is believed in 10) was delivered to Ukraine at the end of July 2024.
Western countries promise to provide about 65 F-16 fighters to Ukraine.It is estimated that some of them will be delivered by the end of this year and the rest are delivered by the end of 2025.
Royal United Services Institute, Professor Justin Bronk at the Royal United Services Institute, said that the time to deliver the aircraft to Ukraine was so long not because of the lack of the F-16 aircraft, but itBecause of lack of trained pilots.
"It takes four to five months to train a pilot driving an F-16, and all the technologies needed for driving F-16 for fighting take several years." He said.
"Ukraine hopes that hundreds of pilots are trained in Western countries at one time, but they have no ability at all."
How will Ukraine use F-16?
F-16 fighter aircraft began in service in 1978. It can launch missiles and intercept enemy aircraft, and can also provide close support for ground forces by attacking enemy lines.
However, St. Andrews University's strategic research professor Phillips O'brien said: "Ukraine will mainly use F-16 for defense.
He said that the F-16 fighter is equipped with air-to-air missiles that can be used to prevent Russia's air strikes on the Ukrainian army and civilian targets.They will work with Ukraine's existing air defense systems (such as the air missile system).
"The missiles provided by the United States for Ukraine's F-16 are relatively modern," said Professor Brank."They are not the most advanced, but they should be able to shoot down Russia's cruise missiles and drones."
"If the F-16 can prevent Russian missiles from destroying power stations and other heating facilities, so that Ukraine can get heating in the upcoming winter, it will be very popular with the Ukrainians." Professor Obrain said.
Professor Bronck said that the F-16 fighter is also equipped with air-to-ground missiles that can be used to remotely attack the Russian military command center and supply station.
But he said: "The F-16 may not be used to provide close support for the Ukrainian army on the battlefield. Russia's air defense force is too powerful to make it unable to approach the front line."
Professor Obrain said that the weapon and equipment of the F-16 may be difficult to shoot down the gliding bomb, and Russia is increasingly using gliding bombs to attack the Ukrainian army and city.
Is the F-16 given to Ukraine in Western countries enough?
The US Think Tank Strategy and International Research Center (CSIS) released a report saying that if you want the F-16 to play a significant role in the war, the number of F-16 required by Ukraine is far more than the current promised about 65.
The report said that the F-16 should not only be used to defend Russia's air strikes, but also to attack Russia's air defense system in Ukraine, and remove Russia's helicopters and other aircraft on the battlefield.
"Ukraine needs nearly 12 fighter squadron to achieve the air support required for ground war." Strategy and International Research Center reported."This goal requires 216 F-16, and 18 each squadron."
However, Professor Branch said that the Western Air Force could only transfer it to the F-16, which was replaced by the national army and retired to Ukraine."This is just the beginning," he said.
"The F-16 fleet of Ukraine will be a long-term task."
