How Ukraine’s new F-16 fighter jets will assist the struggle in opposition to Putin’s forces and Russia’s drone assaults | EUROtoday

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Ukraine has obtained its first batch of F-16 fighter jets practically a 12 months after the nation’s Zelensky pleaded for them to assist counter Russia’s invasion.

Six jets, which can be fitted with fashionable US weaponry, have been delivered to Ukraine from the Netherlands, with extra to observe shortly from Denmark.

The two nations, in addition to Belgium and Norway, have promised to offer Kyiv with greater than 60 of the American-made planes over the following few months.

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The fighter jets are anticipated to begin flying sorties in Ukrainian skies quickly and can be a much-needed enhance to the nation’s present fleet of Soviet-era jets to counter Russia’s invasion.

But with analysts warning the F-16s gained’t flip the tide of the warfare on their very own, how will they assist Kyiv struggle Putin’s forces? The Independent takes a glance under.

How will F-16s assist the struggle in opposition to Putin’s forces?

“They will be able to affect some of the dynamics of the war,” Federico Borsari, an analyst on the Center for European Policy Analysis, stated.

Ukraine would use the jets to intercept Russian missiles and drones, suppress enemy air defence methods, and strike Russian troop positions and ammunition depots with air-to-ground missiles, Mr Borsari stated. Russia has stepped up drone and missile assaults throughout Ukraine in latest months.

The airplane’s superior radars – fitted by Lockheed Martin – would permit Ukrainian pilots to pinpoint targets additional away than they will of their present Soviet-era MiG-29s, Su-27s and Su-24s.

They might additionally carry British-supplied Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles with a spread of greater than 250 kilometers (155 miles), probably placing targets inside Russia – however info on the airplane’s functionality is unclear.

What are the challenges for Ukraine?

However, supporting Ukrainian troop actions on the frontline with floor assaults could also be too dangerous for the F-16s, given Russia’s subtle air protection methods.

Marina Miron, analyst on the Defense Studies Department at King’s College London, additionally warned Kyiv’s nine-month coaching on utilizing the F-16s was a “crash course” in comparison with the same old three-year course Western pilots obtain.

The F-16s additionally require a lot of assist personnel, akin to expert upkeep engineers, munitions loaders, intelligence analysts and emergency crews, Ms Miron added.

Ukraine should additionally set up a community of radar stations, bolstered hangars, a provide of spare components and refueling methods, with high quality airfields wanted to retailer the jets, she added.

How might Putin react?

Russian president Vladimir Putin would savor the picture that destroying F-16s from NATO nations would carry, Mr Borsari stated.

The Kremlin’s forces will seemingly attempt to destroy the F-16s on the bottom with long-range missiles. They have already been concentrating on Ukraine’s restricted variety of appropriate airfields.

Russia’s army additionally has what are estimated to be a number of hundred operational fighter jets, in addition to subtle air surveillance radars. Russia’s Su-35 fighter jet can be one of many greatest threats to the F-16.

Even so, the Russians are conscious that they’ll be up in opposition to a extra formidable plane than they’ve met thus far within the warfare and can seemingly undertake a extra cautious strategy.