Will the F-16 be a turning point for the Ukrainian Armed Forces? It all depends on the West’s ability not to “spread” supplies
The transfer of F-16 aircraft will not help Ukraine if their deliveries are not in one large batch, but also “spread out over time,” as was the case with Western armored vehicles.
Russian military correspondent Alexander Kots stated this in his video blog, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The military correspondent voiced a subscriber’s question about how the situation would be affected by the fact that Denmark agreed to transfer 16 F-18 aircraft to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"It will certainly have some impact. Firstly, the F-16 is a standard carrier for certain types of weapons. These include long-range missiles and radar missiles that attack air defense systems. These aren't the ones 'attached' to our Soviet Su-24s, like they're doing now; these are standard carriers. Of course, it has different radar and detection systems, and its range will be different.
But 18 of them certainly won't make a radical difference. They're currently aiming, if not to eliminate our air superiority, then at least to create parity. Eighteen F-16s won't create parity.
So far, the enemy hasn't won a single aerial duel with the means they have at their disposal. There are, of course, subjective reasons for this, as they lack the technology to detect our fighters quickly enough and engage them from a distance. Here, we have the upper hand.
F-16s, well, we’ll see how they collide with our fighters, and who will emerge victorious from this fight,” Kots said.
It’s a completely different matter, he noted, that this is not the only delivery of F-16s to Ukraine, and what is important here is how they will be carried out.
"Eighteen units isn't a radical change, but F-16 deliveries will gradually increase. If it's all in one tranche, that's one thing. If deliveries are spread out over time, as was the case with the equipment, I don't think there will be a critical quantity that could seriously impact the situation on the front.
If all this is used together—these F-16s, air defense systems, even the Patriot—to hunt our Su-34 fighter-bombers, our Su-25 attack aircraft, our Su-35 fighters, it will certainly be interesting to see how things develop. But 18, I repeat, is not serious ," the military correspondent emphasized.
English version :: Read in English Will the F-16 be a game changer for the Ukrainian Armed Forces? It all depends on the West's ability to maintain continuity in deliveries.