Western F-16 fighter jets are expected to arrive in Ukraine within weeks.
.in_text_content_22 { width: 300px; height: 600px; } @media(min-width: 600px) { .in_text_content_22 { width: 580px; height: 400px; } }
These fighter jets are unlikely to have an immediate impact on the battlefield. The Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive few aircraft, and Russia has many air defense systems that can shoot down F-16s. Kyiv will probably use the first fighters to strengthen air defense, the Washington Post reported, citing unnamed Ukrainian and Western officials.
It is noted that these aircraft will shoot down missiles, drones and aircraft, and not strike the ground forces of the aggressor country and other enemy targets near the front.
The authors of the article point out that at first the F-16s are unlikely to fly too close to the front line, so it is not yet clear whether they will be able to deter the invaders’ aircraft flying in from Russian airspace.
Also, as the publication writes, it will be difficult to protect Western fighters because Ukrainian airfields are located within the radius where Russian missiles can strike. One of the Ukrainian Armed Forces officers said that Ukraine uses camouflage and even places fake models of aircraft at airfields as bait.
Recall that on July 10, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Denmark and the Netherlands had already begun the process of transferring F-16 fighters to Ukraine. They will be flying in Ukrainian skies this summer.
Source: Washington Post
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.