Ukrainian air force explains why Ukraine needs F-16 fighters

The spokesman for the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuriy Ihnat, said this in an interview with Channel 24.

According to Ignat, Ukraine needs F-16 fighter jets primarily for protection against Russian missile attacks on cities and critical infrastructure.

We need such aircraft first and foremost for protection against Russian terrorist rocket attacks on our cities and critical infrastructure. They will be a significant component of our overall air defence.

The Soviet aircraft that Ukraine has - MiG and Su - cannot shoot down cruise missiles and Iranian drones all the time. And even if it succeeds, it is more of an exception to the rule. At the same time, the F-16s have powerful radar, and modern missiles will make it possible to shoot down these targets really effectively.

The F-16s are now available in some countries that are about to acquire even more advanced aircraft. At the same time, permission to transfer the F-16s must first be obtained from the United States. America has not yet given this permission.

The spokesperson of the command of the AFU Air Force notes that the issue of transferring the fighters requires a lot of time and a number of approvals.

It is worth recalling that two Ukrainian pilots recently arrived in the USA for training on a simulator for modern combat aircraft, including the F-16.