Ukraine's receipt of the first F-16 fighter jets from the Western allies became an important event in the context of the war with Russia. However, analysts warn that it is not worth placing excessive hopes on these planes. And although the F-16 is a high-tech weapon, it is unlikely that they will be able to instantly change the course of the conflict.
Ukraine has finally received the first F-16 fighter jets from the Western allies, but it will have to overcome many difficulties to deprive Russia of dominance in the air, writes RTS. Experts believe that an immediate effect should not be expected: according to Hunter Stoll, a security analyst at the RAND Corporation consulting firm, Moscow had time to prepare its own air defense systems along the entire front line.
So far, Kyiv has received only six F-16s, 20 should arrive by the end of the year. The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgium have announced the delivery of 79 fighter jets, but the timing varies. Brussels is waiting for the F-35 to replace it and promises to return the outdated models "between 2024 and 2028." The Ukrainian army is indignant that these fighters are only "slightly better than the MiG-29", "the armament of Russian aircraft of the new generation is twice theirs", and therefore "the F-16s will not change the course of the war".
In addition, the Armed Forces lacks trained pilots to operate American fighters. This year, only 20 are ready to fly F-16s, but they are usually piloted by two, so for now Kyiv can only count on 10 aircraft. There is also a shortage of ground personnel for the maintenance of fighters, and Russian aircraft and drones can destroy them at the airfield or damage the runway, for which the F-16 has increased requirements.
