How the F-16 fighter jets received by Ukraine can turn the tide of the war against Russia

                        Belgium is also among the countries that have given F-16 aircraft to Ukraine

Jeremy Howell

Position, BBC World Service

August 19, 2024

Western aid to the Ukraine-Russia war now appears to be working for Ukraine, with the first shipment of F-16 fighter jets arriving in Syria and recently attacking key supply bridges into Russia. has destroyed

They are likely to receive 65 aircraft between 2024 and 2025.

For more than two years, the country's leaders have been demanding that Western countries provide it with American-made aircraft. However, there are concerns that too few F-16s are still being supplied to Ukraine's war against Russia, which is not making much of a difference.

Why is it taking so long to give F16 to Ukraine?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky first called on Western countries to supply him with F-16s in February 2022 shortly after the Russian invasion.

They wanted to keep Russian fighter jets out of Ukrainian airspace and give their forces air superiority.

Four European countries, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway, have offered to donate some of the F-16s they bought from the US.

However, US President Joe Biden was worried that giving such modern and powerful aircraft to Ukraine would anger Russia, but in August 2023, he allowed European countries to re-export these aircraft.

All four countries are also giving their F-16s to Ukraine as they acquire the latest F-35 fighter jets for their air forces.

The first shipment of aircraft is believed to have been delivered to Ukraine in late July 2024.

Western countries have pledged a total of 65 F-16s to Ukraine. Some of them are expected to be delivered before the end of this year and the rest by the end of 2025.

Professor Justin Bronck of the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based military think tank, says that the reason for the delay in delivering the planes to Ukraine is not the lack of F-16s, but the lack of trained pilots.

"It takes four to five months to train a pilot to fly an F-16 and several years to learn all the techniques needed to fly them in combat," he says. "Ukraine expected the Western countries to train hundreds of its pilots at the same time, but they do not have this capability."

However, US President Joe Biden was worried that giving such modern and powerful aircraft to Ukraine would anger Russia, but in August 2023, he allowed European countries to re-export these aircraft.

All four countries are also giving their F-16s to Ukraine as they acquire the latest F-35 fighter jets for their air forces.

The first shipment of aircraft is believed to have been delivered to Ukraine in late July 2024.

Western countries have pledged a total of 65 F-16s to Ukraine. Some of them are expected to be delivered before the end of this year and the rest by the end of 2025.

Professor Justin Bronck of the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based military think tank, says that the reason for the delay in delivering the planes to Ukraine is not the lack of F-16s, but the lack of trained pilots.

"It takes four to five months to train a pilot to fly an F-16 and several years to learn all the techniques needed to fly them in combat," he says. "Ukraine expected the Western countries to train hundreds of its pilots at the same time, but they do not have this capability."

How can Ukraine use these F-16s?

The F-16, introduced in 1978, is designed to fire missiles and intercept enemy aircraft.

It can also provide support to ground forces by attacking enemy lines.

However, Phillips O'Brien, a professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, says that "Ukraine will use the F-16 aircraft mostly for defense."

                    The F-16s are considered critical to deterring Russian airstrikes in Ukraine

He says that the F-16 aircraft are equipped with air-to-air missiles.

They say they could be used to defend against Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian forces and civilian targets.

They will work in tandem with Ukraine's existing air defense systems, such as surface-to-air missile batteries.

Professor Bronk says that the missiles that the US is providing Ukraine for the F-16s are relatively modern.

They are not the latest, but they will be able to shoot down Russian cruise missiles and drones.

Professor O'Brien says if the F-16s can prevent Russian missiles from damaging power plants and other sensitive installations so they can stay warm in the coming winter, Ukrainians will welcome the F-16s.

Professor Brunk says the F-16s are also equipped with surface-to-surface missiles that can be used to attack Russian military command centers and supply depots from long distances.

"However, the F-16 aircraft will probably not be used to support Ukrainian troops on the battlefield," he said. Russian air defenses are too strong to bring him close to the front line.

Professor O'Brien says the F-16 may have difficulty shooting down the glide bombs that Russia is using to attack Ukrainian troops and cities.

                    Since February 2022, Ukrainians have been demanding F-16s from the US

Are the F-16s given to Ukraine enough?

The US think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published a report saying that Ukraine needs 65 or more F-16s to make a significant difference in the war.

It said the F-16 should be used not only to defend against Russian airstrikes, but also to attack Russian air defenses in Ukraine and clear Russian aircraft such as helicopters from the battlefield. should

The CSIS report states that "Ukraine needs about 12 fighter squadrons to provide the air support it needs to fight on the ground." For this purpose, 216 F-16 aircraft will be required and each squadron will have 18 aircraft.

But Professor Brunk says Western air forces can only give Ukraine F-16s if they replace them and retire them.

"This is just the beginning, building the Ukrainian F-16 fleet will be a long-term project," he says.

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