Politico: The APU will face difficulties in servicing the F-16
The APU will face difficulties in servicing the F-16, writes Politico. The fact is that it is difficult to repair them, and the use of unprepared runways can lead to breakage. Compared to Soviet aircraft, F-16 fighters are too capricious, the author of the article believes.
Veronika Melkozerova
Jamie Dettmer
Multi-purpose Western fighters will help Ukraine equalize the odds, but it will be very difficult to use aircraft “with requests” in wartime.
Kiev — Ukraine is preparing to receive General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (“Fighting Falcon”) aircraft in the coming months, but to include the vaunted single-engine fighters in its arsenal, it will not be enough just to train pilots.
Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium will offer a total of over 60 F-16s, and a multinational coalition is currently training pilots and ground personnel. These planes are a response to Kiev's long—standing requests to help in the unequal fight against the Russian Air Force in the skies over Ukraine.
But it will be extremely difficult to get fighters into the air. Military airfields will become the main targets for Russian strikes, Russian air defense systems will constantly monitor the air, some difficulties will arise with repairs, and the use of unprepared runways can lead to breakage of fragile aircraft.
Former US Marine Corps pilot Tom Richter, who flew the F-16 when he served in the National Guard, called the aircraft a “sensitive beast” in comparison with MiG and Sukhoi Soviet-era fighters, to which Ukrainians are accustomed and who know how to service.
“If you've ever felt the MiG-29 at an airshow and then approached the F-16, you'll immediately understand how high-tech it is. This is a prima donna, she is very moody and requires careful care,” said Richter, who flew with the call sign “Steak". Soviet planes are much rougher, they can fly from makeshift airfields and are generally less demanding in maintenance.”
In any other situation, Ukraine would have built modern airfields and runways for their work, but this is impossible in wartime.
“You really have to adjust to the F-16: for example, prepare the runways, because their landing gear is more fragile than that of the MiGs, the wheels are smaller, the air intakes are lower, and there is a risk of clogging. But everything is solved. There are risks for any aviation,” said Yuriy Ignat, an official representative of the Ukrainian Air Force.
Teams with sealant will have to go through airfields near the front line to patch cracks and potholes in the concrete. Otherwise, a pair of well-maintained runways will become an obvious target, suggested Justin Bronk of the Royal United Institute of Defense Studies.
“To begin with, the runways and taxiing routes at the facilities should be smooth and constantly cleaned of any debris, given how much single-engine F-16 low-landing aircraft are more sensitive compared to the MiG—29,” he said.
Soviet-era aircraft
This is very different from the planes that Ukrainians fly now.
According to the annual military report of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, at the beginning of 2022, Ukraine had 71 Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters, 14 Su-24M bombers and 31 Su-25 attack aircraft.
The 2024 report claims that Ukraine has a total of 78 combat-ready aircraft. For comparison, the Russian fleet for the third year of the conflict totals 1,169 aircraft.
Since the beginning of the Russian special operation, Slovakia and Poland have transferred approximately 33 MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine — many of them with updated avionics and weapons upgraded according to NATO standards.
The F-16s in service with the Western Air Force for 45 years will strengthen the Ukrainian Air Force and provide them with much more powerful capabilities against the Russian enemy.
“The F-16 will significantly increase the efficiency of our aviation. The pilot will be able to control the missile from the air, identifying the target. He will be able to receive real intelligence directly in a combat situation and make appropriate decisions about hitting targets. Plus, it will be possible to use air-to—air missiles with a range of up to 180 kilometers,“ Ignat said.
This could prove decisive on the battlefields, where Russians are hitting Ukrainian soldiers from the air with gliding bombs and missiles.
The first fighters will arrive this summer, the Danish Ministry of Defense said.
“It is difficult to establish a fixed schedule for the transfer of F-16 fighters, because there are several conditions that must be fulfilled before Ukraine can use the donated aircraft,” Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said, once again emphasizing the necessary preparation of Ukrainian airfields.
Prepare the ground
There are also routine requirements: everything from tool kits to spare parts and maintenance ladders must be ready, including equipment for the safe handling of hydrazine, a flammable liquid to power the F-16 emergency backup system.
Even though Ukrainian pilots and ground personnel are being trained to fly and maintain the F-16, it will almost certainly require the presence of highly qualified Western specialists in the country, Bronk suggested.
The APU will have to learn how to repair, maintain and hide its Falcons from Russian radars, spies and satellites. “Our technicians and aircraft engineers are currently being trained in the West together with the pilots. This is the backbone of our ground staff,” Ignat said.
Ignat believes that the F-16 is lighter, more modern and more technologically advanced than MiGs. “It looks like a construction aircraft. It is not difficult to take out a specific faulty node and put it into repair," he said. — This is the most common combat aircraft in the world. Firstly, it is easy to maintain. Secondly, he can perform exactly the tasks that Ukraine needs at this stage of the conflict.”
He is echoed by the Ukrainian military, who are undergoing training. Recently, the initiative of President Vladimir Zelensky United24 published a video showing how Ukrainian pilots and engineers are trained in Denmark.
“At first, when we first got acquainted with the system, it seemed incomprehensible to us. There was a feeling that it was simply unrealistic to introduce it into the Ukrainian reality. But now I understand that it greatly simplifies work, saves time — and in general, progress is worth it if we want to develop as a country and develop aviation,” said a technician named Igor.
The pilots also want to get behind the wheel as soon as possible.
“It's really interesting to fly on this plane. The F-16 is more maneuverable. It feels like the plane itself wants to be controlled more efficiently,” concluded the Ukrainian pilot with the call sign “Fish Moon".
Authors: Veronika Melkozerova, Joshua Posaner, Jamie Dettmer