Ukraine should not expect to receive all 128 F-16 jets even in theory, expert says

Ukraine hopes for 128 F-16 multi-role fighter jets, but it will not receive that many even though the United States has them. After all, the country does not have trained pilots, the necessary infrastructure, and the means to effectively protect Western aircraft.

This was pointed out by Defense Express editor-in-chief Oleh Katkov on Radio NV. He noted that the Americans cannot provide additional fighter jets because they themselves are experiencing a shortage of combat aircraft (due to years of army downsizing).

"Now the US has a critical shortage of aircraft. The Congress is against decommissioning them. And what they are decommissioning is already junk that can not be called a weapon," the source assured.

He also emphasized that 128 aircraft require at least as many pilots, and there is nowhere to get them. Training a pilot requires many months of study. The expert cited the example of the newly created Romanian F-16 Pilot Training Center, which graduated only seven pilots in eight months of training.

According to him, even if the problem is solved by attracting foreign volunteer pilots to fly the fighters, "this does not solve the problem," as the Russian occupation forces will certainly try to destroy on the ground.

"All 128 units physically cannot fit on one airfield. Usually, only 12 planes can be stationed at one. Thus, it is necessary to have 10 prepared airfields for these aircraft to be based in Ukraine and fly daily. Does Ukraine has 10 airfields with a hard, full-fledged surface for F-16s, with the appropriate number of arched shelters, and where they won't break their landing gear quickly enough? This is an open question. Probably not," Katkov said.

Another problem, he said, is the protection of airfields. For example, to protect them from Russian missile attacks, at least 20 batteries of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems (at least two for each) are needed, not to mention shorter-range air defense systems.

"The urgent need for these 128 fighters is explained by the enemy's active aircraft (up to 300 units every day)... Is it possible for Ukraine to have 128 F-16 fighters even theoretically? Yes. Is it possible to get pilots? Yes. Is it possible to deploy the aircraft so that they are not destroyed on the first day? Not even in theory," Katkov summarized.

On July 31, it was reported that Ukraine had allegedly already received the first batch of F-16 fighters. The Office of the President and the White House made it clear that they would not officially confirm this information. However, British Defense Secretary Grant Shepps reacted to the alleged appearance of modern fighters in Ukraine, saying that this event marks a turning point in the fight of the Defense Forces against the Russian army and its Su-35 aircraft.

At the same time, Russian propagandists have already threatened to reconnoiter Ukrainian airfields and destroy Western aircraft. The occupiers have even deployed Buk SAM in Donetsk region to hunt for F-16s.

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