F-16s Ukraine to get will need modernization, says Air Force
Photo: Yurii Ihnat, Spokesperson of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Western partners will transfer F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. However, they will require certain upgrades to match the capabilities of Russian aviation, says Yurii Ihnat, the spokesperson for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during a telethon broadcast.
"These aircraft will need to be upgraded because we are facing a serious 'machine.' The Russian aviation consists of about 1,500 combat aircraft within the Russian Federation... Thus, they have technological aircraft such as Su-35 and Su-34. It is necessary for the F-16 not to lag behind in terms of parameters," Ihnat said.
He noted that Russia does not deploy its entire army against Ukraine, but the technological level of the occupant's aircraft is more advanced.
F-16s for Ukraine
Recall that Ukraine's allies previously announced the creation of an aviation coalition to provide the country with modern fighters, including F-16, led by the Netherlands and Denmark. In total, Ukraine will receive at least 61 aircraft from Denmark and the Netherlands.
According to Politico, Ukrainian pilots started flight training on F-16s in the United States, and on October 25, they began flying F-16s. Before that, they trained on simulators and aviation simulators that fully replicated the aircraft's cockpit.
On October 22, Ihnat announced that Ukrainian pilots would soon transition from aviation simulators to actual F-16 fighters. However, this transition would be accompanied by instructors.
It should be noted that on November 7, the Netherlands sent the first five F-16 fighters to Romania for the training of Ukrainian pilots, where they opened a special center.
In the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, there is hope that the first F-16s will likely appear in Ukraine in the spring of 2024.
