According to the American newspaper “Politico”, the Western allies of Ukraine are holding initial discussions on the possibility of delivering “F-18” fighters to Ukraine together with “F-16” fighters.
He quoted Western sources on Thursday as saying, “It is possible that in the near future dozens of serviceable F-18 fighters will be supplied to Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden announced on the sidelines of the last G7 summit that the West would start training Ukrainian pilots in the use of fourth-generation fighters, including F-16 fighters.
At the end of May, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed that Denmark and the Netherlands would lead the European coalition to train Ukrainian pilots.
Australia is the first supporter
According to the Australian financial magazine AFR, Washington would be inclined to support the idea of ​​sending F/A-18s to Ukraine.
These retired aircraft are currently in the hangar at Williamtown, outside Newcastle.
The magazine specifies that if the plane is not delivered to Ukraine, it will either be scrapped or sold to the private American airline RAVN Aerospace, to train American fighter pilots.
Australia will retire its fleet of these fighters from service and replace them with 72 F-35A stealth aircraft, and it also intends to add 24 F-35 units to reinforce the fourth squadron with these aircraft.
What are the “F-18” aircraft?
The FA-18 Hornet is the US Navy’s premier multi-tasking fighter, operating in all weather conditions and can:
• Destroy air and ground targets.
• Work from aircraft carriers and land bases.
• Fulfill multiple roles such as achieving air superiority, working as an escort fighter, suppressing hostile air defenses, reconnaissance, air support and day and night offensive missions.
• It entered service in 1999 and has several categories and versions, including: D / C / B / A.
• Including the most modern model “F-18 Super Hornet” currently in the US Army and it comes in two categories E with one seat and F with two seats. The plane has been redesigned again and the airframe has been increased by 25%, and it has also been given larger rectangular vents and more powerful engines in addition to Its range is longer than the rest of the categories , as it contains the latest electronic equipment.
What are its performance and armament?
• Top speed: Mach 1.8, or approximately 1,190 kilometers per hour.
• Autonomy: 3,330 km.
• Maximum altitude: 15,000 meters.
• He is also armed with an M-61 Vulcan machine gun.
Guns: 1 x 20 mm M-61 Vulcan with 578 rounds.
The F-18 C-class fighter is armed with ten AIM-120 AMRAM 4 missiles in each wing and two missiles under the hull, in addition to two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on the wingtips. external fuel tank.
Does it affect the form of war?
Military expert Victor Sobolev told Sky News Arabia that the F-18 in Australia is an unwanted fighter that will not work and protect Ukraine from high-precision Russian missiles such as “Kinjal” or “Iskander” nor will not withstand anti-aircraft defense systems For fighters such as: “Igla” and “S-300” or “S-400” missile systems, in addition to “Su-30 and Su-35” aircraft, which are superior to the F-16 or F-18.
He added: “Although the appearance of these fighters will somewhat complicate the tasks of the Russian army, it is not at the level that prevents it from carrying out its tasks in the special military operation.”
• Ukraine does not have suitable air bases for “F-16” aircraft, and therefore these fighters will always be vulnerable to Russian missile strikes.
• Despite the ability of the “F-18” from earthen bases, it will not be a magic solution, in addition to the fact that some of its models are not suitable for the Ukrainian theater.
• Kiev and its allies should lower their expectations of the expected results of having fighters from a tactical point of view, because the planes requested by Ukraine will not radically change the course of the war.
• The F-18 has become scrap for Western countries, and Australia is taking advantage of the war to modernize its fleet and has agreed to send it to Ukraine in exchange for obtaining the last American fighter “F-35 “.
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