Posted on 12/22/2023 9:28:34 AM PST by ChicagoConservative27
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – The Dutch government announced Friday it is preparing to give 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, in a boost for the embattled nation that is growing increasingly anxious about aid from its Western allies.
The Dutch defense minister, Kajsa Ollongren, sent a letter to parliament outlining the plan to donate the sophisticated jets that was first unveiled in the summer.
Friday´s decision is a significant step toward sending the planes into the skies over Ukraine, but did not say when they will be delivered.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
"Volunteers" who happen to be recent ex-military....
These are some old worn out airframes.
Probably their long on the tooth A/Bs.
“but did not say when they will be delivered.”
The check’s in the mail.
Might as well just scrap them for parts right now; that way they’d at least have something to show for it. Anyway, their hearts are in the right place.
This is going to be a logical nightmare. I wonder if the transfer includes “independent” contractors.
Feel good doesn’t feel so good when you realize how much support modern aircraft require. In the best of times it would take many months to set this up. Unless NATO is going to provide it. This would include trained technicians on the ground. It’s not at all like sending a bunch of P40s and a pile of spare parts and a manual and an instructor to train them and letting them get on with it.
How far is this going to go? F-16’s are useless without AMRAAM and Sidewinder air to air missiles. Are they going to get Harpoon anti-ship missiles and JDAM’s, too? Are we going to provide AWAC and other mission support? Will they sortie out of NATO air fields? And if so, how can we prove that they are not being flown by NATO pilots?
Russia will quickly shoot them down. It will be like shooting ducks in a barrel.
Who in the hell is going to train and maintain these jets? What a joke.
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Turn over may have already happened. Several reports hint that 1 of the 3 SU-25s shot down today was by an F-16.
US and NATO countries have been training the pilots and maintenance crews for over 2 months.
Your list of munitions is already in country and being used by UA Flankers.
Sending the F16s is making an already very complicated logistical situation worse.
Also ex-miltary pilot “volunteers” at $5000. per sortie.
-fJRoberts-
I’m skeptical that the have integrated Ukrainian SU-27 or SU-29’s with AMRAAM’s. Advanced air to air missiles are tightly integrated with the radar of the plane they’re launched from. Without NATO radar and datalink systems, an AMRAAM would not be very effective beyond visual range.
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