[FtrPilot]

When are the F-16’s arriving , soon ?

I wish I knew.

I am more concerned on how they will be initially employed.

My recommendation would be to fly mostly in western Ukraine, far from the front.

They could fly Defensive Counter Air (DCA) missions, intercepting cruise missiles and drones.

They could also launch stand-off weapons such as Stormshadows from well behind the front lines.

This would let the pilots gain experience and accumulate flight hours.

[FtrPilot]

NAVAL AIR DEFENSE: Ukraine has developed unmanned surface vessels (USVs) armed with variants of NATO's AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles to operate against RU aircraft and helicopters.

https://x.com/ChuckPfarrer/status/1807805330161557580

For this to work, the missile seeker must be slaved to the thermal camera.

Drone operator would uncage the seeker head & launch the missile.

Aim-9M would work best.

[SpeedyInTexas]

“The first F-16s will arrive this month, according to Ivchenko, a member of the Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on National Security. He added, “I think initially they will be used to defend against enemy missiles, rather than targeting locations within Russia.””

https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1808197556930781599