Ukraine's problems with obtaining F-16 multi-role fighters rest on the language barrier, runways and spare parts.
The American agency Bloomberg writes about this, citing sources familiar with the issue of aircraft transfer.
F-16 is on its way to Ukraine, but there are problems
The publication notes that although Kyiv will finally receive the first F-16 fighters this summer, their deliveries will occur in much smaller quantities than the Ukrainian side hopes.
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According to agency sources, the supply of combat aircraft to Ukraine became one of the most discussed elements of the NATO summit, which took place this week in Washington. The countries discussed issues related to delays in deliveries, the problem of spare parts for aircraft and the language barrier between Ukrainian pilots and their foreign instructors.
Supply managers also worry that Ukraine doesn't have enough airstrips, and those that do exist are vulnerable to Russian attacks.
As a result, one of the informants told Bloomberg, “Ukraine will be able to deploy just one squadron of F-16s, from 15 to 24 aircraft”, which is much less than the number of aircraft that were requested official Kyiv. Another agency source says Ukraine expects to receive 6 F-16s this summer and up to 20 — by the end of the year.
The problems, the publication continues, turned out to be “so serious” that they cast doubt on the advisability of sending fighter jets to Ukraine and that now this is tantamount to a very expensive show of support for President Vladimir Zelensky. In the months since pilot training began, including 12 in the United States, the battlefield has changed, with both sides relying on cheap drones and Russia bolstering its air defenses.
As Jim Townsend, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Bloomberg, “don't expect miracles” from the F-16 in the war with Russia. He also commented on the vulnerabilities of the planes, as the airfields they are at would be “nice, juicy targets, and the Russians are already striking some of them, just as a welcome to those F-16”.
Ukraine's problems with the F-16
An unnamed senior NATO official listed to Bloomberg the three main issues on fighter planners' minds.
Firstly, aircraft must be reconfigured depending on the mission assigned to them, for example, reconnaissance or combat.
Secondly, Ukraine does not have the long and high-quality runways necessary for the F-16, as well as shelters to protect against Russian attacks.
Thirdly, the logistics of supporting aircraft are very complex, from the need for spare parts to maintenance and finding engineers.
Another NATO official noted that Ukraine is trying to achieve in a matter of months what usually takes three to four years.
Earlier, Jake Sullivan, the US President's chief national security adviser, said that the transfer of the fighters was in full swing and that they would be operational in Ukraine by the summer.
Denmark and the Netherlands are supplying the aircraft, with Belgium and Norway also promising to provide their own fighters in the future. Sullivan added that the F-16s are expected to protect frontline forces in the short term and help retake territory “later”.
Political problems with the F-16
As Bloomberg writes, Ukraine's partners are also considering the possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House after January, which may be due to the fact that American fighter jets may not be able to continue flying if the United States withdraws support.< /p>
This is one of the reasons NATO is expected to take on a broader role in coordinating equipment and training provided to Ukraine. A staff of approximately 700 will be responsible for this in various locations, including three existing structures in Poland, Slovakia and Romania, where F-16 training is conducted.
However, all these organizational issues took more than a year. Back in May 2023, President Joe Biden abandoned his objections to sending F-16s to Ukraine after repeated requests from Zelensky and allies to allow their transfer. Training of Ukrainian pilots began soon after, but analysts say the administration is dragging its feet on handing over the planes — partly out of fear that it would provoke President Vladimir Putin.
Bloomberg notes that Biden and other allies are hesitant to allow Kyiv to use Western-provided weapons to strike Russia for fear of escalating the conflict with a nuclear-armed adversary.
— Our leaders' enthusiasm for quickly creating a demonstration air capability for Ukraine is lacking. We don't want to face what might happen if Ukraine quickly develops a very successful capability — says Philip Breedlove, who was NATO's commander-in-chief during Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
However, the agency writes, military events have changed the opinion of Western leaders, not least of all this concerns the intensification of air attacks from Russia and clear signs that it dominates Ukrainian airspace.
— Russia's recent offensive has some allies wondering if they will have to respond to Ukraine's requests. The question always arises whether money and resources could have been directed in another direction, — says Simone Soare, Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University.
Former NATO commander Breedlove also told the publication about training during which Ukrainian pilots, accustomed to Soviet MiGs with much simpler technology, will have to break a long-standing habit. Pilots have also been taught to rely on ground controllers to direct their movements, unlike Western pilots who fly more independently, Bloomberg writes.
A Ukrainian official interviewed by the publication downplayed the significance of the language barrier, but acknowledged that there were delays in training, personnel and maintenance, as well as shelter from Russian attacks.
