Very difficult work: Ignat told how much stronger the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has become over the past 2 years

Russia with the beginning of a full-scale invasion immediately hit the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, they managed to save the equipment and retain personnel. And also – to repel the enemy with old Soviet weapons.

Speaker of the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Yuri Ignat said 24 Channel about how the Air Force has become stronger over almost 2 years of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. He added that some countries provided MANPADS at the beginning of the invasion. And when the occupiers began to attack critical infrastructure in October 2022, Ukraine began to receive air defense systems.

We are talking, in particular, about the IRIS-T and NASAMS complexes. And in 2023, the Ukrainian Armed Forces received the Patriot air defense system.

Now air defense is everywhere. All Defense Forces are united into a single state air defense system, led by the Commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Nikolai Oleshchuk. “It’s very difficult work in the interaction of departments,” Ignat emphasized.

Huge list

Also created mobile fire groups, which give greater results than other air defense forces and means.

Rockets for IRIS-T, NASAMS and Patriot are very expensive. Therefore they should be used judiciously. Everything to deter enemy aircraft. It needs to be driven as far as possible from the borders of Ukraine.

Thereforerationally use small arms and anti-aircraft guns to destroy the Shaheds. Also, mobile fire groups began to do a good job of destroying cruise missiles. All thanks to the equipment, which is completed with searchlights and thermal imagers. This increases their effectiveness.

“Comparing with that year, we have a huge range of Western-style weapons. Huge – precisely in the nomenclature, but there is no need to use the word “huge” , that we have “a lot” of them. We don’t have enough. We need more and more,” noted the speaker of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

After all, the Air Force need to replace the old park they are using. This is because it is depleted. Western systems give good results. They are well used by the Ukrainian military. However, air defense still needs to be strengthened.

Everything that arrives will immediately be put into operation. There is someone to exploit it. Specialists have already been trained for all systems. Therefore, we are looking forward to help in strengthening our sky,” said Yuri Ignat.

It’s difficult without an advantage

Ukraine needs air superiority, because without it it is difficult to succeed in ground operations. Russian aircraft need to be pushed back as far as possible.

“F-16s, together with long-range systems such as Patriot or SAMP/T, can provide us with air superiority in occupied territories “That is, to push them as far as possible,” noted the speaker of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

This will be done by certain modifications of the F-16. In particular, American fighters need powerful radars and missiles. The planes that Ukraine will receive will strengthen the strike groups of Soviet aviation. This will be a very good tandem of Soviet and Western weapons to effectively and successfully complete the task.

Strengthening air defense: the main thing

• Germany handed over a new package of military aid to Ukraine. So the Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive another Patriot anti-aircraft missile system. The partners will also transfer missiles for it. This is already the second such air defense system transferred by this country.
• Delivery of Vampire complexes from the United States will be completed in December. So Ukraine will receive all 14 ordered systems. They will help shoot down Russian drones.
• According to media reports, the UK has provided the Ukrainian Armed Forces with the latest weapons. We are talking about Martlet missiles. This weapon is expected to help combat enemy kamikaze drones.