Ukraine's F‑16 challenge: Outgunned in aerial combat
Ukrainian aviation expert Valeriy Romanenko believes that Ukrainian F-16s are inferior to the modern aircraft used by Russia. As a result, they are not capable of engaging in combat on equal terms.
To date, Ukraine has lost two F-16 aircraft. One may have fallen victim to friendly fire from a Patriot system. The circumstances surrounding the second incident are under investigation, although BBC reports suggest it was shot down by a Russian missile, either from the S-400 ground system or an R-37 air-to-air missile.
Problems with Ukrainian F-16s
In the initial weeks at the front, F-16 fighters mainly carried out tasks behind the front lines, supporting Ukrainian air defence. Over time, their pilots began to take more daring actions, and photos published on social media suggested the involvement of these aircraft in strike missions.
Romanenko believes that direct aerial combat with modern Russian aircraft (e.g., Su-35) should not occur because Ukrainian F-16s will not be able to fight on equal terms. According to the expert, this is mainly due to the radars and missiles, whose range does not match the distances at which air battles are currently fought. The most valuable armament of the Ukrainian F-16s is the AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles with a range of about 100 kilometres. Some Russian fighters can be armed with air-to-air missiles with a range of even hundreds of kilometres (e.g., R-37M reaching targets at a distance of 400 kilometres).
"Now battles are not fought at close range. Nowadays, aeroplanes are dispersed over large distances," said Romanenko.
F-16s for Ukraine from the West
F-16s are making their way to the front thanks to the efforts of the so-called aviation coalition aimed at strengthening Ukraine with this type of fighter. Withdrawn from service, F-16s are being transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force by Denmark and the Netherlands. Belgium has also committed to doing the same, but in its case, the transfer has been delayed.
These are F-16A/B variants with MLU (Mid-Life Update) modernisation. These are 1990s aircraft with certain improvements, including upgraded radars, a modified cockpit, and adaptation for carrying a wider range of armaments. Standard features still include the M61 Vulcan six-barrelled cannon, calibre 20mm, a top speed of approximately 2,200 kilometres per hour, and an operational ceiling of up to a maximum of 15,000 metres.
In addition to the limited range of radars and missiles, experts also point out that among the problems associated with F-16s in Ukraine is the fact that the transferred fighters lack the Link-16 communication system.
