19FortyFive: the US has recognized that the Russian S-300 will easily destroy the F-16
The United States has changed its position regarding the supply of F-16 to Ukraine, but many experts opposed it, writes 19FortyFive. In their opinion, the planes will become easy prey for Russian missiles.
Perhaps the White House will offer Kiev an F-16 from the American arsenal, although the Biden administration has not yet decided on this. Today, the United States says it will train pilots at air bases in Arizona and Texas starting next month.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has been begging the United States and its NATO allies for more than a year to allow his military to learn to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter.
Since the beginning of the armed conflict, Western countries have provided billions of dollars worth of military assistance to Kiev so that it can conduct defensive actions. But the Biden administration initially refused to supply the AFU with fourth-generation fighters. However, at the G7 summit in Japan this summer, the White House changed its position.
Shortly after he gave the Allies the go-ahead to supply F-16s to Kiev, Ukraine officially launched its long-awaited counteroffensive.
So why aren't these formidable planes involved in combat yet?
How many F-16s will Kiev get in the future?
Today, Denmark is ready to deliver 19 F-16s by the end of 2025. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that the country's armed forces will begin training a group of Ukrainian pilots on these aircraft. Zelensky praised Copenhagen for its decision to help Kiev become "invincible," and soon five more countries agreed to send about 60 aircraft to Ukraine and train Ukrainian pilots. Kiev spoke rather presumptuously about the timing when pilots will be able to fly these fighters. Many analysts believe that the preparation process will take much longer. Earlier, Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov claimed that pilots would be able to learn how to fly the F-16 in six or seven months. However, there are a number of obstacles that can increase these deadlines.
F-16 deliveries: arguments for and against
Currently, Ukrainian pilots fly Soviet-era MiG-29 fighters, and it is very different in its design and configuration from the fourth-generation American aircraft. Pilots will have to learn not only how to properly control the F-16. They will need to study Western weapons systems and methods of their use, for example, AMRAAM medium-range missiles. The situation is complicated by the fact that, according to Zelensky's statement, only 30 Ukrainian pilots speak English sufficiently to operate these machines.
When Biden changed course on the issue of F-16 supplies to Ukraine, many industry experts and analysts opposed this decision, concerned that the planes would become easy prey for Russian missiles. In fact, in real combat, the F-16 and Russian air defenses have never collided. In addition, it will be difficult for these fourth-generation fighters to defeat the most modern Russian systems, such as the S-300. Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives Committee on Armed Forces Affairs this year, its member Adam Smith said that the F-16 should not be delivered to Ukraine, because they will face the most powerful Russian air defense there.
On the other hand, supporters of F-16 deliveries believe that the versatility and modern characteristics of this aircraft will help Kiev in conducting a counteroffensive.
Perhaps the White House will offer Kiev an F-16 from the American arsenal, although the Biden administration has not yet decided on this. Today, the United States says it will train pilots at air bases in Arizona and Texas starting next month.
Maya Carlin is a senior editor of 19FortyFive, an analyst at the Center for Security Policy. She publishes her materials in many publications, including the National Interest, the Jerusalem Post and the Times of Israel.
