The main task of F-16 fighters in Ukraine will be the defense of territories that are beyond the reach of ground-based air defense systems and achieving air superiority.
This statement was made by the spokesperson of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuriy Ignat, during a telethon.
“An aircraft is also part of air defense. Somewhere, ground-based air defense will cover strategic directions, important objects, and cities. And then mobile groups and F-16 fighters can operate further”, he explained.
According to him, the aircraft will protect the airspace from missiles such as the Kh-101, “Kalibr,” and kamikaze drones since they cannot shoot down ballistic missiles.
“It will also gain air superiority because currently Russian aviation surpasses us in terms of quantity and technology”, Ignat said.
He added that air superiority in occupied territories will assist ground forces in both defense and offense.
As it became known, the delivery of F-16 fighters to Ukraine may take several months at best. This was stated by the Minister of the United States Air Force, Frank Kendall.
He noted that these are still relatively short terms since it usually takes over 2 years to train a new American pilot to operate such an aircraft.
Photo: open sources
