Second batch of F-16s to Ukraine… “The Allies’ Antidote” to Fortify the Sky

8th December 2024

2 minutes read

Second batch of F-16s to Ukraine... "The Allies’ Antidote" to Fortify the Sky

Since the beginning of the military operation in Ukraine, Moscow has enjoyed dominance over the skies due to Kiev’s weak air capabilities. However, the approval from the U.S. administration several months ago to transfer fighter jets from Western allies could break that equation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that his country had received a second batch of F-16 fighter jets from Denmark.

Zelensky wrote on X platform: “The second batch of F-16s has arrived in Ukraine from Denmark. This is an example of leadership in defending lives, a characteristic of Denmark.”

Will the Deliveries Be Sufficient?

While Ukraine hopes to use the F-16s, equipped with powerful electronic warfare systems and a range of other weapons, in coordination with other Western weaponry such as the Patriot air defense systems, to protect a region considered a dangerous gap exploited by Russian pilots, the planes would add another layer of protection for Ukrainian cities and vital infrastructure against missile and drone attacks. However, experts have downplayed their importance.

Hunter Stoll, a defense analyst at the RAND Corporation, stated: “Russia has had plenty of time to strengthen its defenses, especially along the front-line areas. The F-16s and their pilots will face stiff resistance from Russian air defenses, both on the ground and in the sky.”

Ukraine has recently faced fierce attacks along the 600-mile front and against its power grid. In addition to Russian strikes on Ukrainian airports, Ukraine will also face limitations due to the small number of trained pilots, according to Ukrainian and U.S. military officials.

Air force leaders say they typically assign at least two pilots per aircraft — for crew comfort, training, and other matters.

This means Ukraine will not be able to use more than ten F-16s at most in combat missions this year.

Officials also note another limiting factor: the number of trained maintenance and support personnel on the ground to keep the F-16s flying.

General Serhiy Holoptsov, commander of Ukraine’s air forces, previously stated that Ukrainians “do not wear rose-colored glasses” and realize that the F-16 is not a cure-all.

He added, “The F-16s alone will not be enough to counter Russian warplanes. These planes will operate in coordination with ground-based air defense systems like the Patriots, and coordinate efforts with a robust Western information-sharing network called Link 16.”

He pointed out that “the operation will take time, and there are several factors that could complicate the efforts, including the lack of air defense systems in Ukraine, which it urgently needs to protect both its civilian and military assets.”

However, he concluded, “But if this pushes Russia to push its aircraft further away from the front lines, it could be considered a turning point and a victory, if not parity in the airspace.”