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F-16 fighter jets: What are they and could they be sent to help Ukraine?
https://news.sky.com/ ^ | 23 January 2023 | Michael Drummond

Posted on 01/25/2023 1:10:36 AM PST by RomanSoldier19

They can fly at more than 1,200mph and are some of the most advanced aircraft in NATO's fleet. Could the F-16 be sent to Ukraine?

Could F-16 fighter jets soon be screaming over Kharkiv or breaking the sound barrier as they tear through the skies above Zaporizhzhia?

It once seemed impossible, but now? Maybe not.

As the Western world looks to Germany for a decision over Leopard 2 tanks, it was from the Netherlands that a possibly more radical idea was floated: sending Western-made fighter planes to Kyiv for use by Ukrainian pilots.

The Dutch cabinet said will look into supplying F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine if the Kyiv government asks for them, the country's media have reported.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.sky.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: f16; lol; lolol; newtargets; targets; ww3; wwiii
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To: Tupelo

Ther military industrial complex with inside trading by Pelosi and Mitch types who can help guarantee the frightening prospect of peace will not happen on their lucrative watch.


21 posted on 01/25/2023 3:08:03 AM PST by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
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To: RomanSoldier19

I hate Nato . The military industrial complex with their partners in the government run media really have the sheep pulling hard for a war with Russia. Let’s just ignore the fact we don’t win wars we just start them to sell weapons with no intention of winning. Iraq, Afghanistan , vietnam etc. etc were wars started based on lies from our government and media and were not in defense of the country. I hope Russia wipes Nato out for the good of humanity and freedom. The deep state wants a nuclear exchange so they can control American and European lives even more. Russians are more free then we are and Putin doesn’t direct the government to punish white Christian’s for being white Christians like all Nato member countries do. If you’re an American soldier you should defend the country and topple our evil government.


22 posted on 01/25/2023 3:08:48 AM PST by BillyCuccio (MAGA)
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To: BillyCuccio

You have a very weird take on the world.
Maybe you should travel a bit and get some perspective.

“I hope Russia wipes Nato out for the good of humanity and freedom.”

Its funny. I have been to a good chunk of NATO (Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Germany, Britain, Belgium), and if they “punish white Christian’s for being white Christians”, this not apparent to this (mostly) white Christian.


23 posted on 01/25/2023 3:16:24 AM PST by buwaya (Strategic imperatives )
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To: BillyCuccio

Ah yes,

Wishing for the destructions of America and pining for the “freedoms” found in Russia!

This is what passes for MAGA today!


24 posted on 01/25/2023 3:18:43 AM PST by FreshPrince
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To: Tupelo
If we had a look at the stocks the Lords & Ladies in The District of Corruption had purchased over the past few months, it would tell us a lot. Maybe a quick check of General Dynamics stock would give us an idea if The Government and/or NATO will be sending F-16s and instructors to Ukraine.

It's always good to be cynical, but in this particular case the Dutch are in the process of replacing their F-16s with F-35s, so if they were to decide to send any F-16s to Ukraine it would be their old models that they're retiring anyway.

So, it would be Lockheed Martin, maker of the F-35, that would ultimately profit from this transaction.

25 posted on 01/25/2023 3:36:42 AM PST by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
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To: RomanSoldier19

Could they? Yes. It is technically possible for it to happen.

Should they? That ‘s a whole ‘nother question.


26 posted on 01/25/2023 3:44:18 AM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith…)
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To: RomanSoldier19
It takes a long time for even a very well trained and experienced western pilot to transition into F-16s. Most F-16 pilots admit that they were behind the airplane for the first 40-100 hours flying the plane and it took longer for them to be really effective .

Proficiency flying and deploying weapons does no happen over night so it will take close to a year before Ukraine pilots are good to go in an F-16.

We have plenty of F-16s sunning themselves in the boneyard but it's the weapons for them that are in short supply.

We have already blown through about 1/3 of stockpile of howitzer shells and anti tank missiles. It will be a long and expensive process to rebuild stocks.

Do we really need to be doing this with our aircraft weapons inventory?

This is monumental stupidity.

There is currently no plausible way Ukraine defeats Russia. There will be a negotiated solution. We could have had a negotiated solution very early on to avoid a lot of death and destruction when it was clear Russia was not doing well. NATO is intentionally torpedoing negations to prolonging the conflict in Ukraine to bleed Russia and probably for Western Pols to steal vast quantities of aid money.

It's time to force both counties to the negotiating table, not the time for escalating the war to top prolong the conflict.

27 posted on 01/25/2023 3:56:45 AM PST by rdcbn1
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To: Jonty30

F-16s have been around for a long time. China already has everything they need to know about them.


28 posted on 01/25/2023 4:23:43 AM PST by real saxophonist (Hoplophobia will never be in the DSM, because the DSM is written by hoplophobes.)
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To: RomanSoldier19

The F16 is extremely easy to learn to fly and land.

It takes a decade, however, to become worth a crap as a fighter pilot in one.


29 posted on 01/25/2023 4:25:08 AM PST by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: Jonty30

Presumably they wouldn’t be sending the latest block (version), so there’s not much secret in a 20 year old bird.

And F16I? Yes, that has a tad more science in it.


30 posted on 01/25/2023 4:26:53 AM PST by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: BillyCuccio

Comrade, use paragraphs and spacing.

They should hav briefed you.

You can’t just cut and paste things from the template or the political officer will move you off the floor.


31 posted on 01/25/2023 4:30:52 AM PST by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: FreshPrince

No... Simply a elementary understanding that ANYTHING Democrats are behind is WRONG. ...’nough said...


32 posted on 01/25/2023 4:31:42 AM PST by sit-rep ( )
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To: frank ballenger

And “third party” transfers are prohibited and require US approval before they can ship to Ukraine.
And setting up the logistical supply train is a huge undertaking, oh, and jumping from one jet to another isn’t like swapping cars. Each jet type has completely different systems and performance characteristics. Takes long time for the pilots to learn the systems and learn to fly it.


33 posted on 01/25/2023 4:31:49 AM PST by Hulka
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To: RandallFlagg

Close but it was the rapid on-set of g’s that gets ya. All fighters, like the F-15 and F-15E, pull just as many g”s.


34 posted on 01/25/2023 4:34:04 AM PST by Hulka
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To: frank ballenger

The Luftwaffe and Japan Self-Defense Forces had extra Patriot batteries after the end of the Cold War and sold some to South Korea, with U.S. approval. The U.S., and likely other NATO forces are reducing the mix of tanks in their armies (the Marines no longer use them) because of, well think Javelin, precision strike weapons. NATO and the U.S. are fielding new aircraft, the older models are mothballed or used for the reserves. Except for precision strike weapons like HIMARS and Javelin, Ukraine is not getting the latest and best weapons. But they are fighting a third world power with Nukes.


35 posted on 01/25/2023 4:39:17 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit.)
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To: RomanSoldier19

STAY OUTTA UKRANE.


36 posted on 01/25/2023 4:39:51 AM PST by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. )
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To: RomanSoldier19

Look.! We have no business in that war today. Both countries involved with bidens and he has given, taken, laundered money and classified docs.. It is plain he only cares for himself.. The nation could fall as long as Joe is fine!


37 posted on 01/25/2023 4:48:59 AM PST by frnewsjunkie
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To: RomanSoldier19

I don’t know why we didn’t dump the thousands of cobra helicopters we have in storage. I get that they are easy to shoot down but in the numbers we have, you can flood the battlefield.


38 posted on 01/25/2023 4:52:22 AM PST by dila813
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To: dila813

and older LGM-30


39 posted on 01/25/2023 5:28:34 AM PST by satan (The tree of liberty is dying in the drought.)
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To: dila813

and older LGM-30


40 posted on 01/25/2023 5:28:57 AM PST by satan (The tree of liberty is dying in the drought.)
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