LB.ua : F-16 fighters will not become a "magic wand" for Ukraine
Used F-16 fighters will not become a "magic wand" for Kiev, writes LB.ua . They are unable to carry long-range cruise missiles. Moreover, there are no conditions in Ukraine and there will be no conditions for the exploitation of a capricious "American". And the "surprises" don't end there.
The discussion on the F-16 for Ukraine continues. Will the F-16 be the magic wand that will solve our problems in the air? Let's try to figure it out.
Genera lDynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a lightweight multifunctional fighter of the fourth generation. At the start, we note – not a bomber, not an attack aircraft, not some kind of hybrid, but just a multifunctional fighter. The price of the F-16 in the D variant is thirty–four million dollars.
What can we get? The Netherlands and Denmark noted that they are ready to transfer 42 F-16 AM/BM and 19 F-16 AM/BM aircraft to Ukraine, respectively. That is, the states that buy the F-35, give us the planes that are decommissioned.
The F-16 has approximately the following TTX (a bunch of modifications and configuration options, so something in between):
- maximum speed – 2178 km/h;
- the combat radius, depending on the flight profile and load, is 1361-1759 km.;
- practical ceiling – 15,240 m
- weight ratio – 1.03
- combat load (at +5.5 g, when the aircraft can still conduct air combat, maneuvering, although empty withstands 9 g) at nine suspension points: 1000 kg under the fuselage, internal 2×2.041 kg, central 2×1587 kg, external 2×318 kg, at the ends 2×193 kg, additional points for suspended equipment on the sides of the air intake 2×408 kg
F-16. wings for Ukraine
What is important for air superiority? The detection range of airborne radar targets and the firing range of air–to-air missiles. For the F-16, it looks like this: The AN/APG-68 radar allows you to see targets at a distance of 257 km, AIM-7m missiles fly at 70 km, AIM-9 - 20 km, AIM-120 – from 50 to 180 km, depending on the modification.
What missiles will be transferred to the air forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – have not yet been reported. The problem with the use of cruise missiles (Storm Shadow, SCALP, Taurus), formally possible: Storm Shadow / SCALP weighs 1300 kg, can be hung on central pylons, TAURUS KEPD 350/150 – 1360 kg, also suitable. But I did not find any mention in the guidance documents that a light fighter fires cruise missiles as the main weapon.
In the air, our F-16s can potentially meet with enemy fighters MiG-29, Su-27, Su-30SM, Su-35.
This is not a scientific and technical article, so we will skip such nuances as oncoming and "catch-up" courses, heights of exceeding and lowering, detection and capture range, front and rear hemispheres and leave only the maximum values. And note that the R-37 missiles were launched only by the Mig-31 during this conflict.
In close air combat, the F-16 can fight on equal terms with all types of fighters, but at long distances, although it will see the enemy earlier, it is not a fact that it will get him with missiles.
The air devil, as well as the land devil, lies in the details. And the main detail is the information support of aircraft combat operations in the air.
The only source should be the radar of the radio engineering troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, that is, "earth". JTIDS running on the Link 16 protocol will have to exchange information with ground sources. And what is the bandwidth of the channel? What is the data exchange rate? The dogfight is fleeting, and these two factors are of critical importance. Are our radars ready for such data exchange at all? There is also the Delta system. Will it be on the Ukrainian F-16? Today, Delta is a powerful environment that provides the user with maximum situational awareness. And situational awareness of the pilot in combat is almost half of the victory.
The sky is high. Ukraine needs planes
The ground component is very important. The F-16 is known for being capricious in operation. Once Japanese pilots complained that the air bases of the Land of the Rising Sun do not ensure the cleanliness of the runways: objects from them are sucked into the air intake – and they easily disable the ramjet engine. And the condition of our operational airfields in peacetime did not reach the Japanese ones. In general, the F-16 is from the generation of parquet. His ancestors are another matter. The crazy seventies!
Fuel problem: JP-8 is the standard for many military aircraft, a military variant of Jet A-1 fuel, which is used in civil aviation. Is there everything to store, transport, refuel JP-8 aircraft?
An unpleasant surprise with a low level of English slowed down the pilot training program. This surprise should definitely be here. American pilots are trained at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Senior U.S. Air Force officers upgrade their qualifications at Air War College or Air Command Staff College in Montgomery. Both colleges are part of Air University (United States Air Force). We hope someone went there and gets the necessary knowledge.
It cannot be said that we are not preparing at all. The Ministry of Defense created Office-61 (why not Zone-51 at once?). The Office should comprehensively ensure the continuous integration of the F-16 multipurpose aircraft into the general system of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. It was announced that the main directions of its activities will be:
- support and development of infrastructure of airfields (aviation bases)
- comprehensive protection of airfield infrastructure, including air defense system
- selection and training of flight personnel and other aviation personnel
- aircraft life cycle support and logistics support
- international communication and other legal, financial, and administrative functions, as well as security issues
It's as if the Ministry of Defense has been thirty-two years old, and still does not let go of childhood illnesses, everyone wants to manage something instead of forming and implementing state policy on national security issues in the military sphere, defense and military construction. Why can't aerodromes continue to be handled by the aerodrome and technical support service of the Logistics Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine? Why suddenly the people who control the air defense will not be able to ensure the tranquility of the F-16 at the airfields already covered by them? The Air Force Training Command will not be able to select pilots for training?
What is the point of duplicating the existing governing bodies again, already created according to NATO standards. Maybe there are enough offices already?
In addition to the F-16, it is worth taking a look at other aircraft. JAS-39 Gripen, for example. Do not forget about the cost of an hour of flight: Gripen – $ 4900, MiG-29 – $ 5000, F-16 – $8000, Su-27 – $27000, Su-30 – $ 40,000. There is clearly no need for an office here ... I find the F-14-F-15 pair very attractive for our air forces.
Author: Victor Kevlyuk
