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As already reported, Ukraine has received the first batch of fourth-generation US-made F-16 fighter jets towards the end of last month.
Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, and Norway are expected to deliver at least 79 F-16s to Ukraine, with the deliveries to continue in the coming years.
The jets were all updated to the AM standard through the F-16 Mid-Life Update (MLU) package that was designed to upgrade the cockpit and avionics to the equivalent of that on the F-16C/D Block 50/52.
As already explained [CLICK HERE to read the article], the F-16 will not be a game-changer in the war. Nevertheless, it will provide the Ukrainian Air Force with tactical options they’ve never had since the war began: in fact, the F-16s will be able to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and shield the country’s population centers from Russia’s daily bombings.
But how will Kyiv use the F-16s in the ongoing war against Russia?
Eric Wicklund, former US Navy Operations Specialist, explains on Quora;
‘We already know the “more numerous…Russian air superiority fighters” won’t enter Ukrainian-controlled airspace. They’ll get shot down.
‘Likewise, we know Ukrainian F-16s won’t enter Russian airspace. Same reasons. But Ukrainian F-16s don’t need to enter Russian airspace to shoot down Russian Su-34s carrying glide bombs. That’s an important missing just now. The AMRAAMs the F-16s carry have a standoff range. That means they can engage the Russian bombers from inside Ukrainian airspace (avoiding the dangerous Russian airspace). That means they don’t necessarily have to get within range of Russian air defense or CAP fighters to shoot down the Russian Su-34s.
‘Russia could move their air defense closer to prevent the Ukrainian F-16s from doing this, but then they put their air defense under risk of destruction by Ukrainian ATACMS and other long-range artillery. Also, there’s Ukrainian fighters performing the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) mission.
‘Ukrainian F-16s put the Russians in a dilemma. Either risk losing your bombers to interception by Ukrainian F-16s, or move your air defense artillery closer to threaten the F-16s. But when you do, now you might lose your air defense batteries…more that they were losing before.
‘Same with the Russian CAP (Combat Air Patrol) fighters. They could stay out of range of the F-16 fighters, but then fail to cover their own bombers. They could fly closer, but then they come under fire from the F-16s and Ukrainian air defense. They might get shot down.
‘If Ukraine plays this right, Russia will face a dilemma when no answer is the correct one. The military maxim goes something like: “Don’t give your enemy a problem to solve. Problems have solutions. Give your enemy a dilemma. There are only wrong answers to dilemmas.’
Wicklund concludes;
‘What I am describing here all occurs at BVR (Beyond Visual Range). The Russian and Ukrainian GBAD (Ground-Based Air Defense) will never see their intended targets, instead firing from BVR. The F-16s attempting to intercept Russian glide-bomb-armed aircraft will likely never sight them with the naked eye. The Russian CAP will likely never “see” the intercepting F-16s or even the Su-34s they are covering.
‘This is modern warfare occurring, and most of it will happen on a radar screen. Missiles, far away and out of sight from the launching aircraft/platform, will do most of the dirty work.’
Photo credit: U.S. Air Force, Wikipedia and Ukrainian Air Force
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