Will change the dynamics of war: F-16 will impress planes and missiles in the Russian Federation-The Guardian

According to journalists, with the advent of the F-16 F-16 fighters in the Ukrainian sky, it will act more restrained in their attacks on border areas. On the basis of the Dutch Air Force in the countryside, General Arna Stollmann, commander of the Netherlands Air Force, said that, according to his expectations, this summer the F-16 fighter jets will finally rise into the sky above Ukraine. The Guardian writes about it.

"Approximately this summer, everything goes according to the plan," he said, standing in front of two old F-16 in the hangar on the basis where the instructors of the Ukrainian Air Force are trained. Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have undertaken to provide Ukraine with about 80 F-16 fighters of American production. But the launch of aircraft into the air was deposited due to delays related to delivery and preparation.

The General said that the training of pilots and land management staff was not easy. "Preparation was needed not only pilots, technicians and mechanics also needed detailed instructions. We provide comprehensive support in preparation to make sure that they would be able to serve planes," he said. The Defense Minister of the Netherlands Kaisa Ollogren also stated that the first supply of aircraft to Ukraine is expected this summer.

But she opposed criticism about the delays against the backdrop of reports that Kiev was disappointed with the pace of pilots. "I fully understand the position of Ukraine, they want as soon as possible . . . We implement the project as quickly as we can, we really expand our capabilities," Ollogren said.

According to her, the F-16 is really much more complicated than the aircraft that have used the Ukrainian Air Force "can not simply jump in a few stages, we need to go through every stage, but we also want to put them as soon as possible," she added. For months, Ukraine has been waiting for these fighters and hopes that their appearance in the Ukrainian sky will change the dynamics of war and make Russia act more restrained in its attacks in areas located closer to the border.

Aviation expert and former Ukrainian military pilot Anatoly Khrapchinsky believes that the Russians will have to change their tactics. "We will be able to more effectively impress their aircraft and missiles, and it will be very difficult to continue to use managed airbots, which we have to run at a distance of 50 to 70 km," he said. According to the adviser of OP Mikhail Podolyak, even the air defense systems are not so effective against airplanes, only aviation can resist them.

And the F-16 has a greater flight range than the Russian could. The Minister of Defense of the Netherlands has stated that Ukraine would grant permission to use transferred fighters for attacks in Russia, provided that their use will be carried out for defensive purposes and complies with international law. Danish representatives also stated this. "We have seen that Ukraine needs to be able to strike within Russia. Otherwise, the Russian Federation will always have an advantage.

Ukraine will use weapons across the border to increase its efficiency of its hostilities," Ollogren said. Justin Bronk, aircraft analyst from the Rusi analytical center, said the planes will begin to use when "they will be tactically and promptly ready - pilots and the land team, and not on the grounds that" things go bad, we need a political victory. " According to the bronicle, the tactics of flights on F-16 will be completely new for pilots, which are used to Soviet Mig-29 or Su-27.