Posted on 07/26/2024 9:58:45 PM PDT by ransomnote
The advanced U.S. fighter aircraft will mark a significant upgrade to Ukraine’s air force, but their impact on the war with Russia will hinge on several factors.
Ukraine is set to receive U.S.-made F-16 fighter aircraft within months, an upgrade that Kyiv and its Western allies hope will help level the playing field with Russia’s formidable air force. But the F-16s will only have a meaningful impact on the war in Ukraine if Kyiv and its partners can build and maintain the extensive support and logistics infrastructure necessary to keep these world-class warplanes in the air.
What is the F-16 and what are its unique capabilities?
More From Our ExpertsThe F-16 Fighting Falcon (also known as the “Viper”) is a major upgrade from the Soviet-era fighters that Ukrainians currently fly. Made by U.S. manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the F-16 is a fourth-generation fighter—only one generation behind state-of-the-art stealth fighters such as the F-35 Lighting and F-22 Raptor.
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Depending on the model and its upgrades, the F-16 can perform many roles, including both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. In the cockpit, its human-machine interface is designed to enable pilots to make informed decisions quickly, while its relatively advanced radar and munitions allow pilots to engage targets at approximately one hundred kilometers (sixty-two miles).
F-16s will add an additional layer of defense to Ukraine’s current air defense artillery systems. Ukraine will likely use its F-16s to intercept inbound Russian cruise missiles and other less-advanced surface-to-air missiles. As a multi-role fighter, the F-16 can also provide air support to Ukrainian ground operations, help deter Russia from gaining control over additional airspace, and help prevent Russian aircraft from conducting close air-support operations along the front lines.
Additionally, the F-16’s various weapons—which include AGM-88 high-speed, anti-radiation missiles, autonomously tracking AIM-120 air-to-air missiles, small-diameter bombs, and standoff weapons (Storm Shadow cruise missiles)—and its integration within the localized air defense systems, will help Ukraine further align militarily with its Western partners.
How many F-16s will Ukraine get and when?
Ukraine began requesting F-16s shortly after Russia’s February 2022 invasion, but it wasn’t until last summer that the United States approved a third-party transfer from Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. As it stands, these North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nations have promised to deliver multiple squadrons’ worth of these fighters (approximately sixty aircraft total) to Ukraine. The first F-16s are reportedly set to arrive as early as June, around the same time that Ukrainian pilots will begin graduating from their training on how to fly the aircraft.
Currently, Ukraine’s aging fleet of fighter aircraft includes several dozen Soviet-era MiG-29s and Su-27s. In contrast, Russia flies the more capable Su-35, giving them a technological advantage over Ukraine in any air-to-air combat.
What will it take to train Ukraine’s F-16 pilots and support crews?
The 162nd Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard, in Tucson, operates the United States’ foreign training unit for F-16 pilots, and several Ukrainian pilots are receiving F-16 instruction there. Training a new F-16 pilot takes up to nine months and close to ninety hours of flight time, depending on the proficiency of the pilot. The course is divided into blocks of academics, simulators, and live fly events, with pilots progressing based on their previous experience and English-language skills. During the intensive course, Ukrainian pilots are trained in principles of air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, culminating in a “checkride” that validates their skill level and ability to handle any emergency procedure. Pilots will train further at centers in Romania and Denmark, whose offerings will be similar to U.S.-taught courses, but with added instruction in NATO-specific flying fundamentals.
The learning curve for flying for F-16s can be quite steep, even for experienced pilots. The F-16 is an extremely capable, highly maneuverable aircraft with a large suite of advanced capabilities. Pilots new to the F-16 can struggle to master the wide-ranging skills required to perform the jet’s various missions. As Ukraine adds F-16s to its fleet, it should carefully consider the proficiency of its operators and how they are employed. Without the right mix of training, demonstration of proficiency, and integration into the larger air-power construct, the F-16’s introduction will not have Ukraine’s desired effects on the conflict.
What other military infrastructure is needed to operate this fourth-generation fighter?
One factor that sometimes gets lost in public discussions about military aid to Ukraine, particularly regarding highly sophisticated platforms such as the F-16, is the vital roles played by various people on the ground to keep these aircraft and their weapons systems operating safely and successfully in a high-intensity combat environment.
For instance, for every F-16 pilot, there is a significant maintenance and logistics “tail” of support personnel that accompanies each aircraft to keep it airworthy. A typical package of twelve aircraft needs close to 250 maintainers to remain viable. These include mechanics and airframe specialists, crew chiefs, munitions loaders, and aircrew life support. To create the targeting and mission packages, a robust team of intelligence analysts and targeting experts is required to ensure operational success. Meanwhile, onsite emergency personnel, including firefighters and medics, are needed to ensure safe ground operations. Ukraine will also need to consider stationing formidable surface to air missile defenses near its F-16 operating locations. For symbolic and operational reasons, Russia will likely be interested in attacking any F-16 that is parked on the ground for an extended period of time.
MORE AT THE LINK: What It Takes to Fly the F-16: Challenges for Ukraine
In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled What It Takes to Fly the F-16: Challenges for Ukraine, alexander_busek wrote: Putin said he would consider F-16's nuclear threats [...] Oh, golly! If Putin says he views them as nuclear threats (even though they aren't), then we sure as heck better do as he says and withdraw them!
After all, Putin is the one who started this Special Military Operation war of invasion and conquest more than two years ago, so he has the right to dictate the ground rules.
And if Putin says that the Russians are allowed to use advanced fighters, but the Ukrainians aren't, that's good enough for me!
Regards,
President Trump has said our CIA helped overthrow the Ukraine in 2014, and there are recordings of Victoria Nuland which expose our CIA's orchestration of that coup.
F16s can carry nuclear weapons but they won't change things in Ukraine, says Putin
Putin noted that the fighters had the capability to carry nuclear weapons "and we also must consider that in the way we organise matters". The F-16s, he said, would be legitimate targets, wherever they might be.
"Of course, if they will be used from airfields in third countries, they become for us legitimate targets, wherever they might be located," he was quoted as saying.
especially the bridge across the Kerch strait.
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That bridge is no longer the military supply line. Now mainly just a civilian passageway, handling civilian infrastructure needs, primarily rebuilding.
Russia has built a rail line ( in record time) that extends to Melitipol, carrying metric tonnage of war supplies.
“ Kirilo Budanov dropped a bombshell on March 31. That day, the head of the intelligence services of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (GUR) stated in an interview with Ukrainian state television that Russia had “almost” completed the construction of a new railway line that will connect the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don with Crimea along the Sea of Azov. Until that day, Ukrainians had barely heard of this infrastructure, except for the propaganda statements made by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which few in Ukraine believed. The military authorities in Kyiv have admitted this week that they expect this route to come into operation in soon, which will be a significant step forward in Russia’s efforts to consolidate its military presence in four partially occupied provinces.
Tavrida-2 is the name of this train line, as reported on Wednesday by Denis Chistikov, the second-highest Ukrainian representative for the occupied territories of Crimea. Once completed, the 310-mile railway line will be the second rail network connecting Crimea — the peninsula illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 — with Russian territory. The first train line crosses the Kerch Strait bridge…..”
Non western MSM sources state the rail line has already been supplying areas east of Marioupol.
Vlad appears to have checkmated senile Joe once again.
The article doesn’t touch on Vlads extensive AA systems, which have been very effective…..the Ukie’s destroyed Air Force attests to that fact.
This F16 stunt will turn out just like the M1 and Leopard debacle. Throw into the mix the million and half ruble “ bonus” to be given to soldiers taking down an F16 insures they will be hunted down in little time.
The Moscow Military Museum needs a few fallen F16’s in their war booty display for the whole world to see.
The bloodthirst of the zeepers knows no bounds.
If a nuclear attack on Ukraine was NATO’s goal, that could be more reliably accomplished by letting Ukraine use NATO supplied ballistic missiles to fire on Russian cities — no F-16s needed.
The Western Gaslight Media can gaslight those fools into believing ANYTHING.
Of course, they probably believed the gaslighting about Joe Biden being "sharp as a tack", too...
There is no reason that the Kerch bridge cannot be used for military purposes, nor is there any reason that Ukraine cannot attack and sever the land side rail line and roads as well if they have the means to do so. Indeed, for strategic and operational reasons, it makes sense to accumulate overwhelming striking power and do them all at the same time, along with attacks on Crimea’s infrastructure so as to strand as many Russians as possible in Crimea and make their circumstances untenable.
1. Links, or you're talking out of your hat.
2a. A Cessna can carry/deliver a nuclear warhead. So what?
2b. Some of the Russian jets flying through Ukraine are equally capable of carrying nukes. Thus, turnabout is fair play!
3. Russia is clearly the aggressor here. The annexation of vast swathes of territory of a peaceful neighboring country is only yet another demonstration of that fact.
4. If Putin doesn't like some of these new developments, he is free to turn tail and withdraw to the status ante bellum. No one is stopping him from giving up.
Regards,
Assuming the Ukies have learned how to fly them, how can they keep them safe from Russian missile attacks on their airbases?
there any reason that Ukraine cannot attack and sever the land side rail line and roads
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An excercise in futility. Rail lines ( announced by both the Ukies and Russians) are quickly repaired , usually within a day. I have viewed video that shows railroad repair units in action fully restoring severed rail lines in a few hours.
Fact is, Vlads extensive fortifications built and supply lines to his eastern provinces insures they will remain in his hands. While the Ukies were fiddling around with there infamous failed counter offensive, Vlad was fortifying his Kherson Zaparhoznia regions. It should be noted Vlad has regained all of that territory the Ukies entered, and managed to open a northern front.
The US’s Project Ukraine has failed.
A Ukie “ Victory “ is pure Hopium. Much like Hitler’s propaganda during “ the end”.
The zeepers have pinwheels-for-eyes.
No one is stopping him from giving up.
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The Duma and more importantly the Russian people will NEVER give up. Putin has a 85 % plus approval rating……so much for Nuland’s ( and our CIA and DOS) deluded “ attempts “ to engineer a coup against President Putin.
She should have checked with the Russian citizenry, Napoleon and Hitler made the same mistakes.
In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled What It Takes to Fly the F-16: Challenges for Ukraine, alexander_busek wrote: 1. Links, or you're talking out of your hat.
SEE BELOW
2a. A Cessna can carry/deliver a nuclear warhead. So what?
Cessna's lack the speed, manueverability and weapons of an F-16.
2b. Some of the Russian jets flying through Ukraine are equally capable of carrying nukes. Thus, turnabout is fair play!
Ahhh...not when Russia has air dominance and is winning. Ukrainians and NATO handlers can can try turn about but they will be blown out of the air.
3. Russia is clearly the aggressor here. The annexation of vast swathes of territory of a peaceful neighboring country is only yet another demonstration of that fact.
SEE BELOW to read why Russia is not the aggressor here.
4. If Putin doesn't like some of these new developments, he is free to turn tail and withdraw to the status ante bellum. No one is stopping him from giving up.
He's winning and he won't stop until NATO's proxy war ends with NATO's defeat.
Regards,
Many FReepers seem unaware that our CIA helped overthrow Ukrainian leadership in preparation for NATO to weaponize the Ukraine and intentionally provoke Putin's national security concerns.
2 days after the CIA's overthrow of the Ukraine began, Putin annexed part of the Crimea. Ukraine's apologists always act there's no provocation, no reason at all, which provoked Russia to respond. If China overthrew Mexico and installed weapons and built an army there, the US would 'object', just as Russia objects to NATO's intentions to force regime change in Russia.
In 2010, the Ukraine's "parliament passed a law banning Ukraine from joining any military bloc, effectively banning it from entering NATO though maintaining opportunities for cooperation. According to a poll conducted by Pew Research Center the fall before, just over half of Ukrainians disapproved of NATO and the idea Ukraine might try to join, while just 28% approved." source
ransomnote: Since the Ukraine moved to prevent NATO membership, the US CIA overthrew the Ukrainian government (start of that 'revolution' was February 18, 2014). With (CIA) help, NATO was now in control of the Ukraine, Russia responded by annexing part of Crimea Feb 20, 2014 – Mar 21, 2014.
Two monthls later in May, two more reagions of the Crimea voted for independence to escape NATO's overthrow of the Ukraine, at which point NATO/CIA controlled Western Ukraine began shelling Eastern Ukraine. Nobody likes to talk about Eastern Ukraine shelling western Ukraine; they prefer to repeatedly claim Russia acted without reason and will attack other nations at will once it wins the war in the Ukraine. Those people simply have no objection to the government of the Ukraine shelling its own citizens.
Trump would force negotiations and end the war - that will be his legacy.
Rail lines are robust but by no means invulnerable, especially if rail traffic is prioritized and repair crews themselves are attacked. Russian confidence in their ability to win in the end is misplaced.
In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled What It Takes to Fly the F-16: Challenges for Ukraine, Dr. Franklin wrote: Assuming the Ukies have learned how to fly them, how can they keep them safe from Russian missile attacks on their airbases?
There's no way the Ukrainians can protect F-16's if they locate them within range of the intended targets. They don't have the modern, pristine runways those aircraft need (they can suck debris into their single engine on takeoff and landing).
They can't build the needed runways while Russia has air dominance. It would take them a few years to develop an air defense system that could protect those aircraft. The US gives them Patriot systems and batteries and Russia destroys them.
The Russians just destroyed parked aircraft and the Ukies rushed to claim they were decoys!
NATO allies are promising better security options going forward, but the Ukraine can't build what it needs while under attack.
Blackbirds - my favorite aircraft.....
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