NATO General: F-16s will shoot down Russian planes with glide bombs
The F-16 aircraft transferred to Ukraine will appear at the front no earlier than mid-2024, but they can be equipped with air-to-air missiles.
German General Erhard Bühler stated this on the air of the German channel “MDR”, the correspondent of “PolitNavigator” reports.
The studio asked when the F-16 aircraft transferred to Ukraine and already arrived in Romania would end up on the battlefield.
“Now, after several months of preliminary work, pilot training for the F-16 has begun. But flight training is one thing. For platforms to be truly deployed, tactical training is needed. And the platforms themselves must be provided by the States.
I would be cautious in estimating the timing of the rollout. I doubt that it will be the beginning of 2024, more likely by the middle of the year,” the general said.
He emphasized that the F-16s can be equipped with outdated, but still effective missiles.
“In terms of weapons, I think the most important thing is to eliminate the threat from Russian aircraft, especially those equipped with glide bombs.
You can fight them with the help of aircraft that have anti-aircraft missiles with an appropriate flight range. Even the F-16 has these, these are the American “AMRAAM” and “Sidewinder”. They can shoot down aircraft that appear to be far beyond the reach of air defense systems behind the front line,” Bühler concluded.
NATO General: F-16s Will Shoot Down Russian Planes with Glide Bombs