In this regard, observers have asked questions about how long it would take to deliver the most used fighter in the world? And the training period of Ukrainian pilots? And who provides it? What are the main obstacles to its use?
According to military experts who spoke to ‘Sky News Arabia’, Ukraine faces logistical hurdles to operate these fighters, and teach pilots how to fly and land safely if it takes several months, real fights and employing the hunter on the battlefield can take years.
When is it planned to deliver the F-16 to Ukraine?
According to Western reports, Ukraine needs about 100 non-stealth F-16 fighters, to provide a fleet to take on the Russian “Sukhoi 30 and 35” stealth jets, estimated at more than 200 fighters.
According to US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, the supply of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine is a priority that Washington must implement in the coming months.
As for Colin Kahl, the US Undersecretary of Defense, he says that the training of pilots and maintenance teams as well as the purchase and delivery of the cells will take between 18 and 24 months.
But another US official told the Washington Post that the fastest time for training and delivering the planes was 18 months.
As for the American network “ABC News”, it specifies that the procedures for collecting aircraft from the allies, making them airworthy, then delivering spare parts and ammunition will essentially extend until 2024. .
How long does the training last?
The American network indicates that the training of Ukrainian pilots will take place in Europe and will take months, adding that:
• Training novices and maintenance crews for operations will take a long time. • The US Air Force said in a recent leaked report that the training period could be reduced to 4 months, but this training will not bring pilots closer to air combat proficiency level • Low likelihood of Ukrainians using these fighters this year • It cannot be excluded that secret training operations were carried out for the Ukrainians, in particular Washington.
For his part, Josep Borrell, head of European Union foreign and security policy, said on Tuesday that the training process had already begun in several Western countries, including Poland.
He added that Kyiv will receive these fighters in the near future, while the training will take some time.
Notable Donors:
• The Netherlands has 24 planes in operation and is working with allies to send planes, according to its Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
• Great Britain does not have the F-16, but it is ready to support any country in this direction.
• Germany does not have the training capacity or the appropriate equipment to contribute, according to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
• Denmark has around 30 aircraft.
• Sweden has the “JAS Gripen” fighter but does not have the “F-16”, as well as Latvia and Estonia.
• The Czech Republic could give up some of its L-159 light aircraft, according to its president Peter Pavel.
Slovakia is waiting to receive these planes and relies on allies to cover its airspace
France has the Rafale and the Mirage 2000 but is open to training Ukrainians, according to its president, Emmanuel Macron.
Possible F-16 donors?
According to the American site “Responsible Statecraft”, the problem lies in the fact that these planes in the West are few in number, just as Germany, France and Great Britain operate other types, but there are countries who own it, such as:
• United States: approximately 1,000 aircraft.
• Greece: 153 planes, but it has historical relations with Moscow.
• Belgium: 44 fighters and 24 for the Netherlands.
• Portugal: 28 aircraft.
• Poland: 48 planes which it needs for fear of Russia.
• Romania: 14 aircraft.
Where will the F-16 be stationed in Ukraine?
According to US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall:
• The West has not yet determined where the Ukrainian pilots will be trained?, according to the Russian agency “Tass” • The fighters will be stationed in Ukraine.
The main obstacles to its use in Ukraine
The American network “CNN” claims that several obstacles await Ukraine with the “F-16”, including:
• Logistical obstacles because their maintenance takes more time.
• The crisis of runways and secure bunkers, Ukraine needs to extend and enlarge runways, a process which is likely to be uncovered by Russia.
• The F-16 requires support systems and aircraft because its effectiveness is tied to working within an integrated system to manage the command and control battle.
• It is not stealthy, as it is vulnerable to Russian defense targets such as the “S-300” and “S-400”.
Help Goal
The F-16 is a single-engine, multi-role jet, meaning it can be used in air-to-air or ground-attack missions, and has gotten avionics and software upgrades. .
US military expert Andrew McGregor said the F-16 would be an upgrade to Ukraine’s Soviet-era planes, but warned they had weaknesses that Moscow could exploit.
On logistical hurdles, MacGregor adds to Sky News Arabia:
• It needs long tracks, so Ukraine needs to extend or enlarge the tracks. • The Russians can discover this process and then destroy it. • Training Ukrainians in maintenance work can take months or even years. • Training pilots to fly and land is not enough. take time, but the employment of the combatant in a war environment and the implementation of high-efficiency tasks can take years.
As for the Russian military expert, Sergei Leonkov, he says:
• The F-16 needs appropriate and expensive weapons to be effective against Russian fighters such as Su-25 and MiG-31, stealth Su-30 and Su-35 or advanced Su-57, as well as the Su-30. .
Some Western countries, under the pretext of aid, are trying to sell their old F-16s in order to obtain new fighters from Washington.
NATO has become a direct party to the conflict, which could lead to an extension of the war.
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