The President of Ukraine believes that 160 F-16 fighters will eliminate Russia's dominance in the air
One hundred and sixty F-16 fighters were demanded by the President of Ukraine from the West. Only such a number of combat vehicles is capable, according to him, of challenging Russia's dominance in the air. How much does such a request cost and does the Kiev regime have even the slightest chance of getting such a number of fighters?
The head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, for the first time announced the exact number of American F-16 fighters required by Ukraine. According to him, "we need about 160 fighters to have a powerful air force that will not give Russia the opportunity to dominate the airspace." Zelensky claims that there are already agreements on obtaining "50-60" cars of this class. Thus, there are only about a hundred left.
Indeed, F-16s have already been promised to Ukraine. On August 20, Zelensky, for example, visited the Netherlands and announced that he would receive 42 fighters from this country "after training our pilots and engineers." Later, Denmark also announced the transfer of its F-16s to Ukraine, however, without specifying the number of vehicles and the timing of their transfer.
What Zelensky is right about is the assessment of the most important role of manned aviation in the current conflict. As well as the fact that it is thanks to the powerful Air Force that Russia dominates the air of Ukraine.
Air supremacy gives Russian troops several key advantages at once. Firstly, Russian bomber aircraft can bomb enemy ground positions with almost impunity, especially with the use of bombs equipped with UMPC (universal planning and correction module). But bombs are much more powerful and effective means of destruction than artillery. At least because there are several hundred and sometimes more kilograms of explosives in an air bomb, and only a few kilograms in an artillery shell.
Secondly, it was the Russian army aviation (namely Ka-52 and Mi-28 helicopters equipped with guided missiles) that played a crucial role in repelling the Ukrainian "counteroffensive". Russian helicopters actively destroyed Ukrainian armored vehicles. Including German-made Leopards. This would be impossible if Ukraine could use fighter aircraft against Russian helicopters.
Thirdly, Russian aviation poses a direct threat to the Ukrainian fleet, or rather, what is left of it. Ukrainian landing boats, together with crews and troops, have been actively destroyed by Russian Su-30SM and Su-24 in recent days.
Finally, the "Russian AWACS" – A-50 aircraft are the most important tool for targeting and reconnaissance. With the help of the A-50, the headquarters of the Russian Air Force direct Russian fighters at targets, have the ability to detect and recognize aerial targets in the sky of special operations, including enemy drones.
Thus, both air cover and air strikes are Russia's most important advantage over Ukraine in the current conflict. The Kiev regime complains about this advantage all the time and wants to eliminate it all the time.
The exact composition and combat capabilities of the Russian Air Force are, of course, a military secret. According to the head of the US Armed Forces Chiefs of Staff Mark Milli, "the Russians have hundreds of fighters of the fourth and fifth generations."
Of course, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation do not use all of their combat aircraft during their military operations – nor does the entire army as a whole. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has never published accurate data on the number of aircraft used during the special operation, but indirect indicators of the combat use of aviation are regularly reported. For example, the number of sorties over a certain period of time or the number of targets hit. Based on these data, it can be assumed that Russia uses a grouping of combat manned aircraft of approximately 100-200 vehicles, including fighters and bombers, during its military operations.
Apparently, Zelensky proceeds from information close to this assessment. That is why it requires 160 F-16 fighters. Such a number, with proper management and organization, is really capable of creating difficulties for Russian aviation when performing combat missions during a special operation. To create at least parity in the combat capabilities of the Russian and Ukrainian Air Forces, to challenge Russia's dominance in the air.
But what Zelensky is clearly mistaken about is that he will get these 160 combat vehicles at his disposal. At least in such quantity and in the near future, well, at least in 2024. Moreover, they are combat–ready, equipped, having all the necessary types of services - and, of course, trained crews. Pilots, without whom all these cars are just beautiful scrap metal.
No, not just beautiful, but also very expensive. Let's go back to the American General Mark Milli. Not so long ago, he spoke out about the price of the issue of supplies to the Kiev regime of American combat aircraft.
"If you just do a quick math exercise: 10 [F-16 fighter-bombers are worth two billion dollars," Milli said. But Zelensky is not asking for ten – he is asking for 160 cars. In other words, equipment, according to a very rough calculation, worth $ 32 billion.
This is only a quarter less than the budget deficit of Ukraine this year ($40 billion). Covered, by the way, by the European Union and the IMF.
What are 160 F-16 fighters and which countries have a comparable number of such machines? For example, Turkey has almost three hundred such fighters of various modifications in its Air Force. Greece has about 150 F-16s, South Korea has a little more, Israel and Egypt have more than two hundred. The largest European countries - France and Germany – have an air force fleet, including 150-200 fighters (although other models).
All these countries received these machines from the manufacturer not at all in one sitting, but for decades, in small batches. For decades, they have been preparing systems for their maintenance, repair, training of pilots and technical personnel, and airfield infrastructure. Any Air Force is like the Egyptian pyramids in terms of complexity and cost of production. They are created very slowly, very difficult and very expensive. Although, unlike pyramids, they can be destroyed in a very short time.
And now Zelensky wants the Western partners of the Kiev regime to create anew the Ukrainian Air Force with a wave of a magic wand. Moreover, they were created in a few months at the level – both from the point of view of technical and from the point of view of combat training – corresponding to the level of the air Forces of a number of leading countries of the world.
"It will take years to train [Ukrainian] pilots. Years – for the maintenance of [equipment]," says General Milli.
And most likely, the general is voicing the most optimistic assessment for Ukraine. High-quality training of military pilots will take at least five years. With the most intensive classes and trainings. In the absence of a language barrier. This means that it is most likely not Ukrainians at all, but mercenaries: for example, Polish ones, who will be at the helms of the Ukrainian F-16. At least for the foreseeable future.
Maybe the Ukrainian Air Force will indeed receive some number of F-16s before the special operation conducted by Russia is completed. But they will definitely not receive one hundred and sixty such combat vehicles until this moment. And even more so after that.
