The long-awaited arrival a first batch of US-built F-16 fighter jets is a milestone for Ukraine, which has not publicly commented on it for now. The lengthy process to procure the US-designed aircraft and train Ukrainian pilots to fly them has frustrated Kyiv.
Russia has had time to prepare defenses to try to nullify the F-16s’ impact, and Ukraine has had to survive with a depleted air force that is a fraction of the size and sophistication of its enemy’s.
The number of delivered F-16s appears to be small for now. The Times of London cited a source familiar with the matter who put the figure at just six aircraft.
That number is expected to grow, but it is far short of what military analysts say Ukraine needs, more than 29 months since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Valeriy Romanenko, an aviation expert, said the jets would likely help Ukraine better launch air-to-surface missiles, which it already possesses. Much, he said, would also hinge on what new missiles Ukraine is given with the warplanes.
Receiving missiles with 180-km range would allow them to attack Russian warplanes armed with guided bombs and help significantly reduce Russia’s offensive opportunities.
Russia has intensified its attacks on infrastructure that could be used for the maintenance and deployment of F-16s, according to some experts.
The targets will become all the more valuable when the aircraft, pilots, and maintenance teams arrive. This is likely to force Ukraine to install missile defenses to protect them, even though it is short of both air defense systems and ammunition.
Source: eNCA
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