 "Why the delivery of the F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is crucial amid the Russia war")
Sunday (August 4) marked an important turn in the Russia-Ukraine war, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the arrival and deployment of the first batch of F-16 fighter jets.
The American-made F16 is an iconic fighter jet that’s been the front-line combat plane of choice for the NATO alliance and numerous air forces around the world for 50 years. These are among the most crucial equipment donated to support Ukraine till date, as the country’s forces struggle to resist Russia’s invasion.
As Ukraine prepares to fly sorties soon, let us take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of the F16s.
What is the number of F-16s Ukraine needs to counter Russia?
Zelenskyy told AFP in May that Ukraine needed 120-130 F-16s or other advanced aircraft to achieve “parity” with Russia. “Why do I say 120, 130? It is to defend the sky against 300 aircraft. That’s the number of aircraft that Russia uses against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine’s allies, however, have only committed to providing fewer than 100 F-16s to date, which will likely arrive in batches over several years following lengthy training courses for pilots. On Sunday, Zelenskyy did not say how many had been delivered, but AFP journalists saw at least two F-16s at a location in Ukraine that will remain undisclosed for security reasons.
Ukraine relies on a creaky fleet of ageing Soviet-era MiG-29 planes and Sukhoi jets. They have become increasingly difficult to maintain — since they require Russian-made components — and lack the numbers and capabilities to keep Russian aircraft out of Ukraine’s skies. “It is possible to get by with parts from other fairly neutral countries like Azerbaijan, but that has its limits,” a Western expert working in the defence sector told AFP on the condition of anonymity.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsWhy does Ukraine need F-16s?
Advanced, Western fighter jets are seen as essential by Kyiv in helping Ukraine’s outgunned and outmanned troops beat back Russia’s air and ground forces. “The capabilities of the F-16 enable Ukraine to hold more Russian targets at risk and, in turn, gain more leverage in the war and at the negotiation table,” said a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published in June.
“The missing component of air superiority for Ukraine is an offensive air capability, which the F16s will begin to provide,” the report added. The jets will also help strengthen Ukraine’s defence against Russian strikes by intercepting missiles and drones and targeting Russian warplanes that have hammered Ukrainian positions in recent months.
The CSIS report suggested that the decisiveness of the jets will depend on myriad factors — including the type of weapons provided to the planes, the proficiency levels of the pilots, and potential use restrictions placed on the aircraft by Ukraine’s Western backers.
Even with their advantages, the fighter jets will be operating in fiercely contested skies. Ukraine’s F-16 pilots will be up against layers of formidable Russian air defences, giving them limited options to attack enemy positions, according to Justin Bronk of the British defence think-tank RUSI.
“Where F-16 could influence the ground war is in providing a layer of defensive counter-air coverage to help keep Russian attack helicopters and fighter-bombers from operating inside Ukrainian-held territory during any Russian breakthrough of Ukrainian lines,” Bronk told AFP.
What are the risks of Ukraine owning F-16s?
The anticipated delivery of the aircraft comes as Russia’s forces have increasingly targeted Ukraine’s aviation infrastructure. The Russian defence ministry said it destroyed at least six Ukrainian planes and a helicopter in air raids on three separate bases this week.
Following the strikes, Ukrainian military correspondents slammed the air force’s high command, saying planes at the base had been parked in the open without sufficient protection. The CSIS report said estimates suggest that the size of Ukraine’s current fighter fleet was only 69 aircraft as of March 2023.
Ukrainian authorities refuse to comment on losses sustained by its air force. “As Ukraine waits for the F16s, the question of ensuring their safety on the ground remains,” said the Ukrainian think tank Defense Express in a recent report. The F16s also require carefully maintained runways and highly trained ground crews.
Earlier reports floated the idea of basing the country’s new F16 fleet outside of its borders. Ukraine has not officially commented on where it will base the F16s. Since Russia’s invasion, Ukraine has received a mishmash of military hardware from its Western backers.
The aid has vastly improved the country’s arsenal but also exponentially increased the logistical headaches needed to maintain the numerous systems. The addition of F16s will only compound the logistical hurdles needed to keep its military in fighting shape.
With inputs from AFP
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