Talking about a possible transfer of Western fighter jets to Ukraine is already underway. However, one should not expect that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will soon receive combat aircraft. There are several problems.
Alexander Kovalenko, a military-political observer for the Information Resistance group, spoke about this Channel 24. According to him, the issue of transferring aircraft to Ukraine will be much more difficult to resolve than with tanks.
What issues need to be resolved for the transfer of aircraft to Ukraine
As Kovalenko noted, with the same tanks, the training of Ukrainian crews will last up to 2 months on average. With planes everything is more complicated – here it can take from six months or more.
This is a much longer period than with tanks. After all, a professional pilot on combat aircraft must have not only basic knowledge. Much more is needed here. Therefore, we can say that in the near future there will be nothing unexpected,” Kovalenko noted.
Don't forget about airfields. Obviously, Ukraine needs to train maintenance specialists and the very infrastructure of airports for Western aircraft. But there is a problem – such airfields will immediately become the No. 1 target for Russian missiles. Therefore, it is possible that the first aircraft that Ukraine will receive will be based at airfields, for example, in Poland.
According to Kovalenko, Ukraine will receive Western fighters. However, this will not happen until the end of 2023.
What aircraft can Ukraine get
Kovalenko calmly reacts to Joe Biden's recent phrase that the States will not transfer F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. First, you need to watch this video and generally understand whether the US President heard the question or what question he was answering at all.
Besides, Ukraine may not really need American F-16s. It is important to obtain permission from the United States regarding the transfer of these aircraft from other countries where they are in service. And the States should not block it when the political decision is ready.
And if manipulated a little, Biden replied that the US would not transfer F-16s to Ukraine. After all, they are going to hand over the F-15 or F-18,” Kovalenko jokes.
Do not forget that in the West there are not only F-16 fighters. French “Rafale”, Swedish “Grippen” or “Eurofighters” can also suit Ukraine. Or the same F-15s or F-18s.
Ukraine needs Western fighters
- Since the beginning of a full-scale war, Ukraine has been asking the West for fighters. Some results are already there. Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Goekstra said his country would consider supplying Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets if requested. And French President Emmanuel Macron did not rule out the possibility of transferring modern fighters
- On January 30, Joe Biden unexpectedly said that the States would not provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters. However, it can be assumed that he did not hear the question.
- There is already information that Biden is allegedly planning an urgent conversation with Vladimir Zelensky. They should discuss Ukrainian requests for weapons.
