F-16 fighter jets finally fly in Ukraine in major boost for Kyiv

The Telegraph ^ | JULY 31, 2024 | JOE BARNES

[Texan4Life]

Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky conceded on Wednesday that the US elections, which Donald Trump is favourite to win, poses a “challenge” to Ukraine.

Ukraine has flown its first combat missions with an F-16 after the American-made fighter jets’ long-awaited arrival.

The Telegraph understands the modern warplanes have only been used in an “air defence” capacity so far.

A Ukrainian air force official did not deny this.

A report by the Bloomberg news wire first revealed that a small, but unspecified, number of F-16s had been delivered to Kyiv.

[Texan4Life]

Endless War continues...

[Mount Athos]

[kiryandil]

According to the Washingsnot Pest, six Ukie pilots will be fully trained this summer.

[Saintgermain]

Sooner or later things will hit the fan, I just hope the fan will keep on running.

[Allegra]

Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky conceded on Wednesday that the US elections, which Donald Trump is favourite to win, poses a “challenge” to Ukraine.

We have our own challenges, Voldy. Let Europe pay your never ending demands for money. Go away, ya grifter.

[Fresh Wind]

Obamala Harris thanks you for your support, Volodymyr.

The check will be in the mail shorly.

[Right Brother]

That’s a lot of pilots. I wonder if Russia can muster up the same number?

[HIDEK6]

This stupid shit is going to continue and cause a world war.

[kiryandil]

That’s a lot of pilots. I wonder if Russia can muster up the same number?/i>

     

[MinorityRepublican]

Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky conceded on Wednesday that the US elections, which Donald Trump is favourite to win, poses a “challenge” to Ukraine.

At this point, I'll say Trump has a 50/50 chance of winning the election.

[Gaffer]

I wonder how many years those F16s have on their air frames. Heck, I was working down in DFW there to develop radar target system generators for them in the 80s when they were already operational.

[kiryandil]

The Telegraph understands the modern warplanes

[MikeSteelBe]

Aren’t the Russian planes Ukraine has as good as the old F-16s? Maybe they just need more planes?

[Gaffer]

I’d be guessing it depend on how many and how much high speed stress maneuvers had been made in them. The wings, fuselage and nose sections - how tight they are. It also depends on what level of interoperability C&C links are installed and what the bomb load/weapons load capabilities are now.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#11: "I wonder how many years those F16s have on their air frames."

50 years.

[rdcbn1]

These F-16s are all at end of service life and were about to be retired by their operators . They got a smokin deal on new F35s courtesy of the Biden Administration in exchange for transferring their old aged out F16 fleets to Ukraine

[Sacajaweau]

Russia’s gonna take them out likes ducks at a carnival.

[Rockingham]

US and NATO maintenance standards and routine upgrades assure that even old aircraft are fully capable. Even if not new, such F-16s flown by skilled pilots are superior to anything the Russians have in service. Tactics and tasking matter though, and even superior aircraft and pilots can be squandered if ill-used.

[Right_Wing_Madman]

Even if not new, such F-16s flown by skilled pilots are superior to anything the Russians have in service.

Maintenance and logistics support for the M1 Abrams and M2 Bradleys in Ukraine were non-existent and both systems have been a total non-factor in the war. F-16s are even more high-maintenance, do you think NATO and Ukraine can handle it?

Never mind trained pilots, which air bases east of Kiev will be used to refuel the F-16s for their sorties to Donbass? Do these bases have adequate runways for F-16 operations and do they have sufficient air defenses?

Ursula von der Leyen never thought of any of these questions, and neither have you.

[Petrosius]

This stupid shit is going to continue and cause a world war.

Talk to the Russians who started this mess.