Ukrainian F-16 is equipped with special security facilities against Russian air defense radar-Forbes

There are more and more photos and videos on the network, which recorded European F-16, which will be swept over Ukraine, including the most dangerous eastern part of the country. Some of them are equipped with weapons for patrolling for air defense purposes AIM-9 missiles with infrared and AIM-120 missiles with radar guidance, as well as three tanks of additional fuel that can be dumped, under wings and fuselage.

Others have equipment for more risky bombing raids: two pylons, which have eight small diameter bombs, as well as the central container of the electronic wrestling AN/ALQ-131, all of which complements the four air-air rockets and two dumping tanks.

The latter complete set allows the Single Suir Suir F-16 to affect the Russian goals in the air and on the ground at a distance of tens of kilometers, as well as to detect and deafen the radars of the Russian Federation and batteries of the landscapes of the Earth-Air class. "They act as a" flying air defense "with advanced missile attack technologies," said the Pro -Ukrainian Analytical Group of Conflict Intelligence Team.

The electronic suppression block An/ALQ-131 is a new and critical opportunity for the Ukrainian Armed Forces that entered a full-scale war in February 2022 without significant air mufflers, which is why Ukraine lost its aircraft at an early stage. Much was lost in the first weeks of a full -scale invasion.

The 85 F-16 fighters that Ukraine receives from Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium is much better equipped than the pre-war forces, which consisted mainly of former Soviet fighter jets, could and SU. In addition to the blocks of electronic suppression An/ALQ-131, which were originally programmed by a group of US Air Force specialists, F-16 can carry an integrated Pylon distribution system and integrated Pylon electronic battle systems: Pids and ECIPS.

PIDS throws metal reflectors and heat traps to deceive the approaching anti -aircraft missiles with radar and infrared. ECIPS contains passive protection that complements active reflectors and traps, including the AN/ALQ-162 muffler to suppress radars on Earth, as well as a system of warning about the AN/AAR-60 missile to start passive protection. All these protective systems do not make the F-16 invulnerable.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have already lost one F-16 of about 16 units that received from Denmark and the Netherlands. The aircraft crashed in mysterious circumstances during patrols for air defense in August, then the famous pilot Alexei Munfish was killed. But the AN/ALQ-131 system can provide opportunities for air preference to achieve a goal of strategic importance,-explained the US Air Force representative. However, this may not be preserved for self -defense.

It is unclear to the extent of Ukraine the Air Force will continue to rely on Americans in programming the An/ALQ-131 modules. If Ukraine still needs Americans, then the opportunity to adapt the ECM modules can be lost, as the United States for President Donald Trump is increasingly approaching Russia. Recall that analysts have explained whether Russia has lost its advantage over the booth.