The Ukrainian military has recently shot down or disabled a number of Russian aircraft. Thanks to this, Kyiv can create conditions for the deployment of new F-16 fighter jets, which Ukraine will soon receive from the West.
What is the significance of the destruction of Russian aircraft?
According to Colonel Janek Lehiste, the Estonian Air Force's Chief of Staff, the situation on the front line has become more active, and the initiative is more likely to be in the hands of Russian troops. At the same time, the military officer noted that Russia has somewhat changed its tactics, using fire support from the air to advance.
They discovered that with fire support from the air, with the help of aircraft, the desired effect can be increased many times over, since attack aircraft, lifting or dropping bombs weighing about half a ton, can cause great damage to the defense lines, - Lehiste explained.
He noted that Russia is risking its planes by flying closer to the line of combat.
As a result, the Ukrainians were able to shoot down about 13 planes in February, he clarified.
According to the Estonian Air Force's chief of staff, Ukraine uses both long— and medium-range air defence systems, especially Patriot systems, which have a range of 150 kilometres, to shoot down Russian planes.
Lehiste said that by decommissioning Russian aircraft, Ukraine can prepare to deploy new aircraft of its own.
Of course, one could look at this from the perspective that they are creating conditions for deploying their new aircraft. They may also create conditions to gain air superiority at a particular time and geographical area, emphasised Lehiste.
The colonel added that Ukraine could receive F-16 fighter jets from the West in early spring or summer. At the same time, he emphasised that there is no need to make significant changes to Ukraine's infrastructure to place F-16 fighters.
F-16 for Ukraine
Last August, Denmark and the Netherlands promised to provide Ukraine with 61 F-16 fighter jets.
For deliveries to begin, Ukrainian pilots and service personnel must undergo training, and Ukraine must prepare the infrastructure.
The Air Force speaker, Yuriy Ignat, recently said training the first group of Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 in the United States should be completed at the beginning of summer.
According to The New York Times, twelve Ukrainian pilots will be ready for combat sorties on F-16 fighters by this summer. However, there will not be enough planes for all of them.
