Few weapons have been so eagerly awaited in Ukraine as the F-16 fighter jets, which are finally on the verge of being transferred from Western partners. These aircraft are of great interest, because they have the potential to become a real defensive shield capable of deflecting destructive raids by Russian troops.
Special hopes are attached to the F-16 because of their ability to destroy cruise missiles, which pose a great threat to the cities of Ukraine. In addition, these fighters can successfully counter Russian bombers, which have recently become a key component of the enemy's strategy, contributing to his advance on the front. We should not forget about the ability of the F-16 to carry out strikes independently, which gives the Ukrainian Armed Forces the opportunity to intensify offensive actions.
It is worth noting that the Ukrainian Air Force (Air Force) is making every effort to study the possibilities and potential of obtaining various types of combat aircraft. The question of whether these new additions to the military arsenal will live up to expectations remains open and is subject to further analysis and evaluation.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, in a recent interview with the AFP agency, said that to ensure air superiority over Russia, the Ukrainian air fleet should have 120 to 130 modern aircraft.
Very little is currently known about specific deliveries of future aircraft. There are no exact data on delivery dates, quantities and specific models that Ukraine will receive. It is also not known whether these will be F-16s, because they may differ from the models that already exist in donor countries.
Finally, there are serious doubts about whether these aircraft can be considered truly modern, as well as about their effectiveness in confronting Russian forces.
In the summer of 2024, Ukraine is expected to receive several dozen Western military aircraft, which will be sent by donor countries - Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium. The transfer of 45 to 60 fighters is expected.
The Prime Minister of Denmark announced on the X network on May 13 that the transfer of the F-16 will take place "within months." The Netherlands plans to transfer its F-16s after Denmark, and Belgium has indicated it will do so in 2025. As for the Norwegian aircraft, the timing of the transfer is currently unknown.
A military source in Kyiv reported on May 10 that the Ukrainian military expects to receive the first F-16s in June-July.
A possible delay in the transfer of Western fighters to Ukraine may be related to the process of training Ukrainian pilots in training centers in Europe.
However, this is probably not the only reason for the delay. Perhaps the old F-16s need to be repaired, modernized and brought to a more or less uniform standard. Even within the same country there may be differences between aircraft.
The armed forces of Ukraine will receive quite old fighters, which differ significantly in their capabilities from the latest modifications of the F-16 supplied by the United States to other countries. In addition, part of the military aviation park of the donor countries has been in a non-flying condition in recent years.
In the early 1980s, the countries that plan to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine (Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark) became the first among European states to receive these then new aircraft. It is worth noting that they were not built in the USA, but manufactured in their own factories in Belgium and the Netherlands.
During the 2020s, even without the military conflicts in Ukraine, each of these countries began to withdraw the F-16 from the arsenal, switching to newer models of the F-35. The air forces of Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands already use the latter as their main fighters, while Belgium has just started receiving them - the first flight of the Belgian F-35 took place on May 14.
Some of these countries plan to transfer only part of their free F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, while they sell the rest to third countries.
For example, Denmark, which has 43 fighters in its Air Force (33 single-seat F-16A and 10 two-seat F-16B), sold 24 of them to Argentina. As for how many aircraft the Danes will transfer to the Armed Forces, there are currently no announcements.
In 2022, Norway sold 32 of its 57 F-16s to Romania. It is known that 22 aircraft will be transferred to Ukraine, but the exact date of this transfer is still unknown.
The Netherlands, the former owner of 138 F-16 fighters, promises to transfer at least 24 aircraft to Ukraine. They wrote off and partially sold off the rest of their fleet in the mid-2000s.
All F-16s in operation in these countries belong to the first generation, which is designated by the letters A or B: F-16A is a single-seat fighter, F-16B is a two-seat fighter.
The US continues to produce and export F-16s, but these models are significantly different from those produced in the 1980s.
The first production F-16A fighters, released in 1979, differ from the latest F-16Vs, introduced in 2012, in about the same way that the MiG-29, released in the USSR in 1982, differs from the Russian Su-35, which with appeared in 2015. This is such a significant modernization that it is possible to consider these aircraft as new models.
Also, the F-16 was originally designed as a light front-line fighter similar to the MiG-29 in the USSR. They were smaller than the heavy multirole American F-15 (or Soviet Su-27), had less payload, shorter range and worse performance compared to heavy aircraft.
Even after modernization, when the F-16 also gained the capabilities of multi-role aircraft, their range remained limited and the payload remained small compared to heavy aircraft.
The F-16s promised to be delivered to Ukraine by the donor countries have their own characteristics, as each of them has installed its own set of equipment, in accordance with the individual requirements of the defense ministries.
The fighters of each country had their own set of weapons, which, although they coincided with the main positions, differed in special systems.
For example, Norwegian Air Force F-16s could use Penguin anti-ship missiles and Paveway II laser-guided bombs, while Danish aircraft had AN/ALQ-10 electronic warfare units that made it difficult for enemy missiles to target the aircraft.
Some F-16s in the Air Force of the Netherlands and Belgium were able to carry tactical nuclear weapons, as the US stored such weapons on their territory.
There are also smaller differences, for example in the interface or the instrument panel, but they still make each aircraft unique.
Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium all had F-16s built before 1990, and all four countries have upgraded their aircraft. Many of the characteristics of these fighters are now close to more modern models.
Initially, the F-16 was designed with about 20 years of service in mind. However, its successor was delayed, and in the 1990s, the Mid-Life Update (MLU) program was developed in the USA.
This program was necessary to restore the airframe of the aircraft, which received significantly more loads than intended. Initially, the F-16 was designed as a light front-line fighter for air combat, but over time it received more functions, which increased the mass of the payload and, accordingly, affected the condition of the airframe.
Microcracks appeared in the glider, some nodes required a complete replacement.
The program also replaced the F-16's electronic equipment, including part of the radar equipment, which increased its range by 25%, improved the cockpit equipment, including replacing displays and controls, added various instruments to help control the aircraft in difficult conditions, and much more.
For example, to expand the arsenal of weapons on many aircraft, it was necessary to change the wiring in the wing.
The term “Block” with a number corresponding to a specific program is used to indicate the modernization program. The most common modern modification of the F-16 is the F-16C (single) or D (double), upgraded to the Block 52 level. Their production began in the 1990s. Most American fighters belong to this modification.
It is believed that the old fighters, which were supplied to Europe and are planned to be transferred to Ukraine, have been modernized to this level. Formally upgraded aircraft are designated F-16AM or F-16BM.
Despite the fact that the fighters in the four European countries have been roughly modernized to the same general level, establishing the details and specialization of those aircraft that will be transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) is a difficult task. Each country ordered its own unique aircraft, and even within the same Air Force there may be different modifications.
At the end of April, a video about the training of Ukrainian pilots was published on the NATO YouTube channel. In one of the shots, a fighter jet on which Ukrainian pilots train was shown, and its serial number: 870022 was clearly visible.
Information about F-16 fighters, including serial numbers, can be found in unofficial public registries on the Internet. This allows you to set the characteristics of a specific aircraft.
It can also be assumed that Ukrainian pilots should learn to fight on planes similar to those that will be transferred to them later. They must master a certain set of equipment and weapons. This makes it possible to conclude about the possible use of such aircraft.
The two-seat F-16B, number 870022, was built by the Dutch company Fokker in 1988 for the Danish Air Force. This is not the oldest aircraft in the fleet of Ukraine's European partners, as there are also F-16s delivered in 1980.
This two-seater fighter, although not intended specifically for pilot training, is known for its advantages in combat.
From the first series, the single-seat F-16A and two-seat F-16B were equipped almost identically - they differed only in the presence of a second crew member.
Two-seat fighters have the advantage that the second pilot relieves the pilot. He is responsible for monitoring the airspace, which increases the general level of awareness of the crew.
In addition, if the fighter is using complex guided high-precision weapons, the second pilot who monitors the target is better off doing this: in some cases, he enters the coordinates of the target into the missile or bomb system, in others, he follows its laser illumination.
Single-seat fighters also have their advantages. A pilot in air combat can concentrate on the activity without being distracted by communication with the second pilot, which contributes to a faster reaction to a change in the situation.
In addition, the cockpit of the second pilot reduces the payload and requires additional electrical power. Also, such a crew needs longer training.
This F-16B was upgraded along with other Danish aircraft to the Block 20 level and received the designation F-16BM.
One of the key components of the aircraft is the radar. The Danish F-16BM fighter is equipped with an AN/APG-66(V)2A radar. It is a significant upgrade to an early radar specifically designed for the F-16. The electronic database was replaced, which significantly improved its characteristics, in particular, the speed of information processing and the range of action.
The APG-66 is believed to have been a more powerful and functional radar from the outset than the Sapphire radar in the competing MiG-29s. Ukrainian pilots already use the MiG-29 in combat, but the F-16 will be a significant improvement for them.
However, Russia uses more modern and more powerful fighter jets in Ukraine, such as the Su-30 and Su-35, which have more powerful radars.
The main problem with the radar in the F-16 is the limited size of the fighter, which limits the diameter of the radar antenna and, accordingly, its power. With heavy Russian fighters with large radars, this problem is not so relevant: the Su-30, Su-35 and MiG-31 can detect American fighters earlier. Each of the Russian aircraft has its own modern radar system, which is at least larger than similar American ones.
The size and power of the radar are not always decisive. For two and a half years, Ukrainian pilots have been waging war on MiG-29s, which are significantly less modern than the Danish F-16s.
The radar of the aircraft is worse at recognizing the target when it is against the ground. Therefore, one of the tactical techniques of Ukrainian pilots is to fly at low altitude with the radar turned off.
An activated radar helps track aerial activity, but exposes the aircraft. It's like using a flashlight in the dark - it lets you see your surroundings, but it also makes you visible.
Flying at low altitude with the radar off allows you to remain invisible (until the radar is turned on before the attack), but has its drawbacks.
The biggest of them is a disadvantage in aerial combat. The advantage lies with those who are above. In the case of an attack by an enemy that is near the ground, the missiles fly downwards, which increases their speed and range.
Bottom-up rockets have their own challenges due to gravity and the denser air in the lower atmosphere. This reduces their range and makes them slower. Therefore, it is strategically better to conduct air combat at the same level or to have an advantage in height.
Radar is an important, but not the only, tool for airspace detection and surveillance.
The Danish F-16s use an improved electronic countermeasures system, which includes threat recognition equipment capable of determining from which side the aircraft is irradiated by the enemy's radar. This allows you to "see" not only the reflected radiation of your radar, but also the light of the enemy's radar. F-16s are equipped with the advanced AN/ALR-74 system.
Although this system cannot replace the onboard radar, it helps pilots monitor the situation in the air and perform evasive maneuvers from missiles.
In addition, NATO F-16s are equipped with the Link 16 system, which allows the exchange of information with ground and flying radars, other aircraft and control points.
Ukraine lacks long-range radar detection aircraft, and obtaining information from American E-3 Sentry is impossible due to their limited range. Such aircraft are key air combat control points, as they see a large number of aircraft, both their own and the enemy's, and relay this information to fighters.
However, F-16s can receive information from ground-based radar stations and other fighters.
The Armed Forces managed to shoot down two Russian A-50U flying radars, which helped reduce Russian air combat control capabilities. According to the Military Balance 2022 guide, before the war, Russia had three units of A-50 (obsolete variants) and six A-50U.
The primary armament of the F-16 is the AIM-9L Sidewinder anti-aircraft missile, which has been in production since the 1970s. These are short-range missiles with an optimal launch range of up to 20 kilometers. In addition, these aircraft can be adapted to use short-range IRIS-T air-to-air missiles, which the Armed Forces use in air defense from ground installations.
The Russian Air Force will probably avoid short-range dogfights with the pilots of the Armed Forces. However, such missiles will be useful in the fight against Russian cruise missiles or drones if the Armed Forces decide to use the F-16 as an air defense interceptor.
The Danish Air Force also has longer-range AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, which the Armed Forces already use. They can be launched from NASAMS ground-based air defense systems.
The range of these missiles in the latest modification can exceed 120 kilometers, but European F-16s can use early versions with a shorter range, less than 100 kilometers.
These aircraft will have to stand in the way of newer and heavier Russian ones, which may include the Su-57, a fifth-generation fighter built using stealth technology. They are often called "stealth aircraft", but this expression is not entirely accurate: this technology rather reduces visibility by shortening the detection distance - F-16 radars detect them later than other Russian aircraft.
Many experts are especially concerned about the range of Russian aviation weapons.
The R-37 missile, the most powerful of the Russian ones, has a declared range of 300 km, and the second-longest, R-33, is 160 km. Both of them are used by the MiG-31, possibly by the Su-35S and Su-57. But the latter is forced to carry this large rocket on an external suspension, which nullifies its stealth advantage.
Together with the most powerful radars, this creates a rather dangerous combination.
However, the R-37 is a rather exotic weapon. These are large and expensive rockets. The bulk of Russian fighters are armed with short- and medium-range missiles, which in terms of their characteristics are close to the European F-16 armament.
In addition, in addition to the range, other parameters are important in air battles, not least of which is the training of both pilots and officers in headquarters. A lot depends on the planning and management of air combat.
The presence of A-50U flying radars, the number of which has decreased by two units in the last few months, also still plays an important role.
Therefore, it is difficult to predict the results of air battles between fighters.
F-16 has more chances against Su-34 frontal bombers. These Russian aircraft use air bombs with UMPK modules, which turn them into guided high-precision munitions.
These bombs are dropped from a distance of about 40-50 km at an altitude of about 10,000 meters. The Russian Air Force actively uses these bombs, helping its ground troops to advance in areas of the front.
However, the Su-34 aircraft, being on the combat course before dropping the bomb, is quite vulnerable. If a fighter jet with a missile whose range exceeds those 40-50 km acts against it, it will be a great threat.
Although the Su-34 is based on the Su-27 fighter and is a fairly maneuverable aircraft that can carry electronic countermeasures systems, it is not the easiest target. However, the Russian Air Force, following the experience of two years of war, is not inclined to risk expensive aircraft. The mere presence of a threat may be enough to curtail such operations.
