Already this year, Ukraine expects to use American F-16 fighter jets, but currently the key problem is the insufficient number of trained pilots.
Points of attention
- Ukraine anticipates using up to 10 F-16 fighter jets this year due to a shortage of trained pilots, limiting their combat capabilities.
- The cost of operating F-16 aircraft in Ukraine is influenced by the number of planes and missiles used, with potential significant increases for smaller fleets.
- The use of F-16s will enhance the protection of Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure against missile and drone threats.
- Training programs in the USA, the Netherlands, and Denmark aim to prepare more pilots for combat missions alongside the deployment of F-16s in Ukraine.
- Analysts point out that while F-16s are cost-effective for countries with large fleets, the expense increases significantly for Ukraine operating a limited number of aircraft and high-cost missiles.
What is known about the prospects for Ukraine's use of the F-16 this year
In the article, the publication emphasizes that due to the insufficient number of trained pilots, Ukraine will not be able to use more than 10 fighters this year.
It is noted that Ukraine expects to receive fighter jets with powerful electronic warfare systems and a variety of weapons, along with Western air defense systems such as the Patriot, to expand the danger zone for Russian pilots.
It is emphasized that the planes will also strengthen the protection of Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure from missile and drone attacks.
Russia had so much time to strengthen its defenses, especially along the front line. The F-16s and their pilots will face stiff resistance from Russian air defense both on the ground and in the air, said RAND defense analyst Hunter Stoll.
US officials said they plan to train about 20 pilots this year. Training takes place in the USA, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Air Force commanders say they usually allocate at least two pilots per aircraft for rest and training.
Therefore, only about 10 F-16s provided to Ukraine will be able to fly on combat missions. A limiting factor is the lack of trained technical personnel for the maintenance of fighters.
What is known about the cost of using the F-16 in Ukraine
According to aviation expert Bohdan Dolintse on KYIV24, the number of F-16 aircraft affects the cost of their maintenance.
According to him, it is necessary to understand that an hour of flight of each plane is a rather expensive pleasure.
The cost, for example, of using the F-16 is one of the lowest in the world, provided, of course, that there are a large number of these aircraft. That is, there are data that the cost of an hour of flight there is up to 5.5 thousand dollars for the F-16. But this, of course, is for those countries that have a fleet of hundreds of planes, - explains Dolintse.
The analyst emphasized that if at the beginning Ukraine will use no more than 10 F-16s, then this cost will thus increase by 3-4 times or more per hour of flight.
At the same time, on the other hand, in addition to the flight itself, it is also necessary to understand that the cost of ammunition is quite high.
If we talk about the appropriate means of defeating the enemy, for example, the same long-range missiles, that is, the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, then the cost of the missile can reach up to 1 million dollars with a strike range of up to 180 km, Dolintse noted.
At the same time, he noted, if we talk about cheaper types of missiles, for example, AIM-9 Sidewinder, which are often used as anti-aircraft missiles, the range of such missiles reaches 22 km.
As a rule, the cost of missiles will depend on the type and modification. It can range from several hundred to 500,000 dollars per rocket unit. That is, we understand that these are quite expensive types of weapons, - emphasized the analyst.
