After long delays it is expected that Ukrainian pilots will be taking to skies over their homeland in western supplied F-16 fighters. Tim Ripley looks at the impact the jets will have on the war
Amid much fanfare last year, four European nations announced they would hand over dozens of surplus F-16AM Fighting Falcons to help bolster Ukrainian airpower. US President Joe Biden finally gave his approval in July 2023 to the transfer of the US designed jets to Ukraine, opening the way to delivering western-made combat aircraft to the East European country for the first time. This began a longdrawn-out process to train up Ukrainian pilots and maintenance crews to operate the western jets. Ukrainian airmen are now completing their training in Denmark, Netherland, Romania and the United States. It is expected that they could be in action over their homeland in a matter of weeks.
Commentary on the build-up of the “F-16 Alliance” has so far concentrated on the ability of the Ukrainian pilots to transition from Soviet-era Sukhoi Su-27 Flankers and Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrums to western-designed jets. As the point approaches when the F-16s go into action, focus has switched to how the new jets will be introduced into the combat zone.
Viper power
Ukraine’s western partners are keeping mum on the exact specifications of the aircraft and weapons being offered under the banner of the ‘F-16 Alliance’. From the information in the public domain, the aircraft being donated to the Ukrainians are F-16AM/BM Block 15 Mid Life Upgrade (MLU), which means they have an equivalent capability to the US Air Force’s F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft. So, these jets come with the ability to employ the AIM-120 AMRAAM beyond visual range missile, AGM88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) and AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW).
