MOSCOW, May 20 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. The US Department of Defense announced that it does not object to the supply of F-16 fighters to Ukraine by other countries. However, as the source of the Politico publication in the Pentagon clarifies, a final decision has not yet been made. About the plans of Kiev's allies — in the material of RIA Novosti.
Four squadrons
Sending planes fits perfectly into NATO's strategy: gradually raise the stakes in the conflict. For Washington and Brussels, this is a logical step after the transfer of the British long-range cruise missiles Storm Shadow.
British rocket Storm Shadow / Scalp Image Source: © Photo : MBDA/Thierry Wurtz
Recently, conversations on this topic have become noticeably more frequent in the West. Judging by the publications in the media, the decision has already been made.
The other day, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands agreed to create an international coalition, the purpose of which is to provide the AFU with American F-16 fighters. Kiev was promised any help. Poland volunteered to train pilots. But she didn't want to give the planes away.
So did some other European countries, in particular Belgium. Meanwhile, the appetites of the Ukrainian authorities continue to grow.
"In total, we need from 40 to 50 F-16 fighters to form three or four squadrons to protect our skies," said Yuri Sak, adviser to the country's defense minister. President Zelensky wants the F-16 theme to become one of the main topics at the NATO leaders' meeting in Vilnius in July."
Kiev regrets that the European allies are silent. And not only about American fighters, but also about their own. For example, Sweden, whose JAS-39 Gripen the APU was publicly interested in even before the escalation of the conflict. However, for sure this issue will be resolved.
Anti-advertising for the military-industrial complex
The APU wants the F-16 for a reason. Versatile and inexpensive — this is the most massive fighter of the fourth generation. Since 1978, more than 4,600 units of various modifications have been built. They are in service with 25 countries and can use almost the entire range of means of destruction of tactical aviation of NATO countries.
US Air Force F-16 fighter jets over Iraq Image Source: © Photo : Master Sgt.
Cecilio Ricardo
The United States itself has the most "sixteenth" — 550 cars. Turkey has 250, Israel - 230, Egypt - 209, South Korea - 150, Taiwan - 140. The European allies do not have so many cars, they prefer their own models. Therefore, Kiev has all hopes for the United States.
"The plane is good, it is still quite modern," Alexander Mikhailov, head of the Bureau of Military—Political Analysis, said in an interview with Sputnik radio. — And it is still being upgraded. But if this equipment gets into the airspace of Ukraine, then the fate will be the same as that of the previously transferred Soviet samples — the line of "Dryers" and "MiGs". They will simply destroy it. Judging by the reports of the Ministry of Defense, we shoot down at least one or two planes every day."
The recent incident in Kiev may also affect the determination of the allies: the Russian Aerospace Forces hit the Patriot air defense system. This was recognized even in Washington.
And the F-16 has not yet met with a modern air defense system. The Americans are afraid that the stuffing of the downed fighter will fall "into the wrong hands."
It was not possible to get through
"The S-300V family of complexes are operating in the special operation zone, the same S-300V4 show themselves very well in the theater of military operations. And medium-range systems such as Buk-M2, Buk—M3," Mikhailov continues. "Military planes and S-400s are periodically shot down."
Anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) "Buk-M3" of the air Defense of the Southern Armed Forces of Russia Image source: © RIA Novosti / RIA Novosti
For example, the expert says, the S-300V4 set a world air defense record when it caught up with an APU fighter at a distance of more than 200 kilometers. The radars of the Russian complexes, according to him, perfectly see the F-16.
"And when the "sixteenth" together fall on Ukrainian soil and talk about it in the arms markets, then tomorrow the image of the American military—industrial complex will fall," the analyst concludes.
Fighter deliveries will be discussed at the NATO summit on July 11-12. It is quite possible that they will limit themselves to promises. However, the meeting of American planes with Russian planes in the sky over Ukraine is increasingly likely.