Ukraine is looking forward to the appearance of the first Western F-16 aircraft. They would protect Ukrainian cities from missile and drone attacks, as well as significantly help our fighters at the front.
What is the primary task of the first F-16 in Ukraine?
It is difficult to underestimate the influence of fighters on the course of the war, but at the same time, expectations should not be overestimated. The Air Force spokesman, Col. Yuriy Ignat, explained what F-16 modernisation would give to AFU and how Ukrainians would learn about their transfer.
Ignat noted that the results of the aircraft's operation will be rather accumulative.
I even once said that we will win this war when we get the F-16. First, we beatl win the battle in the air, and then the Defense Forces can liberate the territories. But it will not be instantaneous, they say. The F-16 squadron will come — and victory. That is not true, Ignat said.
Yuriy Ignat
Air Force Command speaker
First of all, the planes should help protect Ukrainians from missile and drone attacks. The fight against Russian aviation will also be an essential task.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Russia is waging war against Ukraine in gross violation of international law. According to international law, Ukraine has the right to self-defence, which includes striking legitimate military targets outside the country.
What equipment will Ukraine receive for the F-16?
Used F-16s of not the latest modernisation will be sent to Ukraine. It is divided into blocks from 10 to 72. By the way, block 72 is an extreme version of the F-16 aircraft capable of outrunning enemy ships.
In the future, there is a possibility of their modernisation: better avionics, better on-board radar, better missiles, — Ignat outlined the prospects.
It should be noted that together with the F-16, a wide range of weapons for it should also appear. It is not known when and in what quantity Ukraine will receive it. This issue will be discussed within the aviation coalition.
Ukraine now joins the club of 21 countries that have and operate F-16s. After that, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine can count on further modernisation and, possibly, receive new F-16 aircraft. And the integration of Ukraine into NATO gives hope that our pilots will also fly the F-35 in the future, as other countries do.
How Ukrainians will learn about the transfer of F-16
Often, Ukrainians and the enemy learn about the transfer of a new type of weaponry to the Armed Forces of Ukraine after the fact. For example, the provision of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine was first learned after the airfield in Berdyansk was hit. Most likely, the F-16 will have a similar situation.
There will be no official ribbon cutting, as was the case in the Soviet Union, the Air Force spokesman emphasised.
He recalled that our country received the Patriot air defence system within the limits of communication, which was not understood by either the Ukrainians or the enemy.
May it continue to be so. We learn that the F-16 is in Ukraine when the Russian plane is shot down. Sometimes certain things are not announced publicly so that the enemy does not draw conclusions, — concluded Ignat.
