www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/06/17/7461144/
Ukraine “prepares ground” for attacks on Crimea after arrival of F-16 fighter jets − Business Insider
Russia/UkraineSEAD/DEAD is priority #1 and the reason Ukraine is getting F-16s. Ukranian pilots have been training for the better part of a year and Coalition instructors have put them through the wringer.
I wouldn't be surprised if the pilots trained at Morris AFB in Arizona have gotten specialized training for those types of missions.
Ukraine needs to clear the long range air threat. F-16s do that, the situation deteriorates for Russia. No S-400s means Russia needs to get in close with thier aircraft against not only the vastly superior Patriot batteries but also the F-16s as well. Even marginal air superiority over Ukraine means they can start hammering armor and especially artillery.
The #1 goal is to protect Ukrainian air space and hopefully achieve some form of local air dominance. I think people forget that while Russia has proven its military is a joke they still have a vastly larger air force. You need to manage your expectations.
I doubt the Ukrainians will use their F-16s for something as high risk as SEAD, they have more pressing immediate issues like protecting their energy infrastructure.
Right on. People need to bear in mind that if the US loses a few F-16s, then it's terrible for the pilots and those involved. But the US has literally 1000+ more planes as backup. Ukraine does not have this. If Ukraine loses a few F-16s, it's a big deal, and a huge negative for Ukraine.
The biggest part is Ukraine will be plugged into the western US logistics system. The f-16 is the literal tip of a spear that normally takes a decade or so to build. When they turn on the system it keeps running until it is out of stuff to shoot at, which is why Russia is throwing so much at every front right now. Those f-16s are going to run 24/7 for months on end. Russian aircraft can only do maybe 1/5th of the hours a western can between major maintenance intervals. Ukraine can just swap out planes and engines. The system they are plugged into can swap in a rebuilt one. We have a desert of those things being rebuilt and we build new ones. Russia can get stuff from China, but they fight the same way with the same equipment. The game is about to change.