Assuming the Ukies have learned how to fly them, how can they keep them safe from Russian missile attacks on their airbases?
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.