"Will have to do without F-16": AFU can win in war and without fighters-nyt

The opinion of highly qualified specialists from Ukraine, the United States and European countries, including researchers from the Western analytical circles, is that achieving a successful counter-offensive of Ukraine will probably require active involvement of air forces, including F-16 and other combat aircraft. About it reports The New York Times (NYT).

According to the newspaper, Baiden administration delayed the process of approving the referral of F-16 fighters to Ukraine for NATO countries for more than a year. As a result of this delay, when the pilots finish the preparation on these aircraft, it may be too late to assist and provide protection for land troops at the current hostilities.

However, current and former official representatives from Ukraine, the USA and the countries of Europe, as well as analysts in the field of defense from Western sources, have expressed an opinion in an interview for New York Times that Ukraine is able to succeed in counter -boxing even without significant support in aviation . In this case, the report emphasizes that "but without aircraft will probably be much more difficult.

" "This will have to be done without the F-16," said Philip Bridlaw, US Air Force General and former NATO commander, "but I believe they will be able to. " In addition, he added that "if you expect that Ukraine will fight the way we are fighting, then they should have tools in us, and we did not give them these tools.

" At the same time, representatives from the United States noted that Ukraine was able to choose only eight combat pilots, which is less than one squadron, and who speak English at a fairly high level to start training, the duration of which will be at least one year. In addition, this month about 20 people will go to the United Kingdom to learn the language.

According to the military aerospace expert of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London Douglas Barry, the departure of only a few F-16 battle will not be of great importance in the war. "They should be enough, they must meet the tasks," he said. We will remind, on August 9 the director of the information and consulting company Defense Express Sergey Zgurets suggested that Kiev can receive F-16 fighter jets in the first quarter of 2024.