Ukraine may soon F-16 warplanes. Some analysts take this lightly. Russia threatens “enormous risks” if the West finally gives up on them. But the manufacturing country USA has agreed and they are already explaining it. educational programs and international coalitions to deliver them. Had the Allied countries finally delivered these fighters to Ukraine, their Armed Forces would have taken a giant step towards NATO standardization. And they would have a flying machine that was the most efficient, if not the most modern. First of all, it allows the transport of all kinds of Alliance precision missiles.
“There’s no doubt Ukraine will eventually deliver the F-16s. The only question is who it is,” he says. Jesús Manuel Pérez Triana, Security and Defense analyst. “It’s possible that they were put in by the Netherlands, who mysteriously broke their contract with a private company buying second-hand warplanes to sell or use them as ‘opposition force’ in military exercises. Everyone suspects they’re coming from there”.
The UK announced that it is working on a project. “international coalition” To help Ukraine purchase F-16 fighter jets. Spain is not dominant for the time being. The Air and Space Army does not use F-16s, but having them in inventory is not a necessary condition for joining the “coalition”: some countries will provide money, others will provide fighters, others will provide training… United Kingdom, for example, does not use them too and has already promised help . The US has about 800 F-16s in its fleet.many wait in large hangars in the desert (the dry area where they are less degenerate).
One of the keys to this combat system is the multitude of experienced F-16 technicians, technicians and pilots to assist and train the Ukrainians. “At least two Ukrainian pilots went to the US to undergo ‘operational transformation’ training: it’s not about teaching people who don’t know how to fly planes, but about adapting Ukrainian pilots who are used to it. Mig-29 or Su-27F-16″ conversion. Ukraine has requested at least for now 150 of these western warplanes To replace and modernize the existing Ukrainian war fleet, consisting of units from the post-Soviet era.
Features of the F-16
Technically, Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon It is a single-engine multipurpose fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force in the 1970s. Due to its versatility and proven effectiveness in combat, it is one of the best-known war machines in the current war universe and has left an indelible mark on military aviation history.
It entered service in the United States in 1978. Since then, the F-16 has been used by numerous countries and has become the preferred choice for pilots and commanders looking for a high-performance aerial platform. F-16 Fighting Falcon Pérez Triana says it was the best-selling single-engine fighter aircraft among NATO countries in the final phase of the cold war. “The most frequent place in Belgium, Norway, Romania, Denmark, Korea, Taiwan, Israel, Pakistan, Egypt…”
One of the most remarkable features of the F-16 is, agility. Thanks to its aerodynamic design and thrust-to-weight ratio, the aircraft is more maneuverable than most of its competitors. This has been confirmed in numerous conflicts, such as Operation Desert Storm in 1991 or NATO missions in the Kosovo War in 1999.
Features of the F-16 high performance turbofan (front fan jet) engine This allows you to reach supersonic speeds and significant altitudes. Its maximum speed is approximately Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound). To this we must add the efficient weapon system that allows it to work quickly in hostile environments.
This advanced electronics Another of the remarkable features of the F-16. Equipped with a range of cutting-edge avionics (multifunctional radar, advanced navigation and communication systems, among others), the F-16 provides unparalleled situational awareness for the pilot. This technology enables the simultaneous detection and tracking of multiple targets, giving the pilot a crucial tactical advantage.
This electronics is one of the unknowns of predictable delivery. “We will eventually have to see the version delivered to Ukraine, because the key is not the plane, but the plates placed on it and the missiles it can carry,” explains Pérez Triana.
Over the years, the F-16 has evolved and undergone constant improvements. newer variants such as F-16 Block 50/52 and F-16V, They include cutting-edge technologies such as advanced avionics systems, interoperability with other aircraft, and increased survivability.
It’s important to everyone Missiles delivered by the alliance will be “plug and play”that is, they will work directly as soon as they are deployed, without the need for adaptation in aircraft, just as they can operate British Shadow Storm long-range missiles on Ukrainian Migs. In this sense, the F-16, nine external ports to carry a wide variety of weapons and payloads, from air-to-air missiles to laser-guided bombs.
The impact of the F-16 on the war
In a possible air conflict with Russia, the F-16 could play a number of roles. For example, can capture and neutralize air threatslike enemy planes and missiles. This is an important advantage in protecting friendly forces and strategic areas.
It will also serve as perfect recognition platform. Some variants, such as the f-16 Block 30/32, can specialize in such missions and obtain relevant information about enemy abilities on the ground.
NATO standards
The F-16 was widely adopted and used by several member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, making it a highly interconnected fighter aircraft by alliance standards. NATO has promoted interoperability and standardization among its members to facilitate cooperation and joint response capability in collective defense situations. The aircraft can work in the network and sharing information with other allied platforms and systems, improves situational awareness and coordination in real time during common tasks.
The F-16 follows, for example: Tactical Data Link (TDL) protocols), providing secure and fast information exchange between aircraft and ground systems. These data link protocols enable the transmission of tactical data such as target location, friendly situation and intelligence information, improving decision making and operational effectiveness in combat situations.
F-16 in Iraq or Kosovo
The F-16 has been instrumental in numerous armed conflicts during its decades of service in different armies around the world. Inside Operation Desert StormDuring the Persian Gulf War, the United States relied on them for ground offensive and air defense missions, providing air support to troops and destroying enemy tactical targets.
Years later, in the Kosovo conflict of 1999, Allied Force Operation He relied on NATO F-16 aircraft to undermine Serbian military and logistics capabilities and the protection of the civilian population. And recently, allied F-16s have spearheaded offensive operations against ISIS positions in Syria and Iraq.
The United States Air Force is the primary operator of the F-16 and has used this aircraft in several variants since the 1970s.. Israel is known for using this plane adapted to different scenarios and your specific needs.
Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark are the strongest candidates to hand over the main European operators and units of these warplanes to the Ukrainian army.
Pilot training, an important consideration
Training to become an F-16 pilot is a rigorous and challenging process that brings together. theoretical training, simulator and real flight. There are four stages to the North American standards for piloting one of these machines; pre-training, beginner training, simulator, real flight and tactical fun. Each of these stages It can take between 6 and 12 months, A noticeably shorter time for Ukrainian crew members.
The United States imposes strict security requirements and export controls on warplanes, including the F-16, due to intelligence considerations and advanced military technology. These requirements designed to protect classified information and technological capabilities and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
In the case of the F-16, the United States is a detailed evaluation and review process to ensure that the buyer and pilots of the aircraft are reliable allies and fulfill their safety commitments. These requirements and considerations are designed to protect the national security interests of the United States and to ensure that the advanced military technology and capabilities of the F-16 do not fall into unauthorized hands or be used to the detriment of international security.
On the 19th, the United States announced that it has authorized the training of Ukrainian pilots of these aircraft and the potential arrival of these devices from allied countries such as the Netherlands or Denmark. Pilot training has become a critical element to ensure the safety and effective use of these powerful aircraft.
One of the main considerations in security requirements is piloting experience on similar aircraft. Familiarity with advanced weapon systems and comparable combat aircraft is a decisive factor in demonstrating pilots’ ability to operate these advanced aircraft.
The United States makes agreements to provide certain training programs in the receiving country or in cooperation with the exporting country. These programs focus on developing the technical skills and knowledge necessary to operate aircraft safely and efficiently.
Storm Shadow Compatibility
Britain delivered a batch of long-range missiles to Ukraine. Storm Shadow. It can hit targets 300 kilometers away and can be fired from aircraft. However, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is not capable of firing the Storm Shadow, which is primarily used by strategic warplanes such as the Panavia Tornado and Dassault Rafale. These aircraft are equipped with special weapon systems and fixed points to carry and launch the Storm Shadow missile.
However, the F-16, AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM are capable of deploying a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons such as air-to-air missiles, guided and unguided bombs. and AGM cruise missiles -65 Maverick, among others.