Espreso. Global
Exclusive

F-16s and long-range missiles are not enough, comprehensive approach needed — Ukrainian military

1 February, 2024 Thursday
14:40

Myroslav Hai, a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer and volunteer, says F-16s and long-range missiles are not a perfect weapon, but only a platform that can be of different quality and weaponry

client/title.list_title

He spoke about this on Espreso TV.

"You know, I don't believe that there is a perfect weapon and I don't believe that F-16s will radically change the situation on the battlefield. It is certainly important that we will now be given long-range missiles and F-16s, but I do not believe that this is the main formula for success, I doubt that they will give us these and everything will turn around, it is a complex story. We need drones and large-caliber ammunition, and no country in the world is currently able to produce as much of it as the Ukrainian Armed Forces need even in a week. The United States of America produces as much 155-caliber ammunition in a year as we spend, for example, in two or three weeks," the military explains.

Hai assures that F-16s are not a panacea for success, because we do not know what their equipment will be. "It's a platform and the question of how they are equipped, what kind of equipment they have, what generation they are, what kind of weapons they carry because it's just a platform, relatively speaking, a constructor on which you can hang anything. We don't know what they are going to give us, all the countries of the world have been collecting artillery and tanks, believe me, a lot of them are beyond repair," the volunteer emphasized.

The Armed Forces officer added that the number of bombs that Ukraine may receive this year is also unknown.

At the same time, he recalled the Bayraktar tactical strike UAV, how it was popular and effective at the war's beginning, and now nothing is heard about it: "There is no perfect weapon, everything works only in a complex."

 

F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine

On May 21, US President Joe Biden approved the training of Ukrainians on F-16s. Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured that Ukraine would not use these aircraft to strike at Russian territory. 

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says that the first F-16 fighter jets are likely to fly in Ukraine's skies by the end of March 2024.

On August 17, the United States approved the shipment of F-16 multi-role fighters to Ukraine.

At the same time, Denmark said it would supply Ukraine with the aircraft if they were not used in Russia.  

The Netherlands will provide 42 fighter jets. At the same time, Norway will provide Ukraine with F-16s, but the exact number is unknown.

On September 15, Belgium joined the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s. Earlier, the Belgian Defense Ministry said it would not provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters because they are outdated and in poor condition. Such aircraft are dangerous to operate. 

On October 11, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that the country would be able to deliver the first F-16s to Ukraine in March-April 2024.

On October 12, the media reported that the Netherlands would send F-16s to Romania, where Ukrainian pilots would begin training in a few weeks.

On October 26, Ukrainian pilots began flight training on F-16s at an air base in Arizona, USA.

On November 1, the Pentagon said that the training in Arizona could last from 5 to 9 months. 

In early January 2024, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said that Ukrainian pilots would complete training on F-16 fighter jets this year.





 
Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2024, Thursday
14 November
21:05
North Korean long-range 170 mm M1989 Koksan howitzer
What Ukraine needs to fight against North Korea's 170mm M-1989 Koksan howitzers received by Russian army
20:22
Exclusive
Ukrainian lawmakers consistently skip sessions, new study has shown
19:55
European Commission agrees to allocate EUR 4.1 billion to Ukraine
19:30
Exclusive
Defense Express explains why Russian army took 28 T-55 tanks from Mosfilm movie studio
19:05
Ukrainian MoD buys hundreds of robotic systems worth UAH 300 million this year
18:42
88 clashes occur at front on Nov. 14: Kurakhove sector sees most Russian attacks - Ukraine's General Staff
18:14
Draft law on demobilization to be finalized by December 18 - Ukrainian lawmaker
17:50
Medics deployed from military hospitals to combat positions in infantry - MP Honcharenko
17:32
Moscow turns to North Korea for artillery reinforcements as war effort intensifies
17:15
Putin orders creation of 50-meter monument to ‘liberators’ of Mariupol
16:58
Ukraine launches 'Tryzub' platform to simulate cyberattacks, train global security forces
16:39
Slovakia may follow Germany in holding snap elections
16:15
Russia's Lavrov complains 'friendly' countries refuse plane refueling due to sanctions
15:55
OPINION
What is Russia, represented by Shoigu, seeking in China?
15:33
Russia faces corporate bankruptcies as Central Bank rate soars
15:17
Poland deploys tanks near Russian border
15:08
Updated
Russian army shoots civilian in Ukraine's Donetsk region: Ukraine appeals to Red Cross, UN
14:58
OPINION
Why negotiating with Putin is impossible
14:40
Re-elected Trump may open door to U.S.-Russia talks, Russian envoy says
14:19
Trump's pick for UN ambassador Stefanik backtracks on support for Ukraine's NATO membership
13:38
Trump's victory sparks South Korea to rethink arms supply to Ukraine
13:16
Review
Romania's presidential election heats up: Battle for second place could decide everything
12:58
Ukrainian military denies Russian occupation of Illinka, Donetsk region
12:43
Russia’s Su-57 fighter struggles to find buyers despite years of marketing
12:08
Ukraine repels Russia’s bid to breakthrough in northeast
11:39
Exclusive
Ukrainian official explains why Russia bridged northeastern Ukraine's Kupyansk
11:21
Exclusive
Russia convicts innocent Ukrainians and pushes propaganda in occupied territories
11:00
Russian troops partially enter Ukraine’s Kupyansk — DeepState
10:28
Exclusive
Russia will collapse without nuclear threats or escalation – politician Rybachuk
09:56
Biden and Xi to discuss Ukraine in upcoming Peru meeting
09:36
Russia loses 1,690 soldiers, 19 tanks, and 65 artillery systems in one day of war in Ukraine
2024, Wednesday
13 November
21:30
Exclusive
Kurakhove could become “meat grinder” draining Russian resources - military analyst
21:11
Exclusive
Russian forces test Ukraine’s air defense during combined attacks – Defense Express
20:56
Trump expected to appoint Ukrainian peace envoy soon - media
20:35
Russians dressed in Ukrainian uniforms attempt to break through defense in Kupyansk sector
20:11
Exclusive
Part of Ukraine's environment cannot be restored after war - ecologist
19:50
Exclusive
Strong Ukraine is important for Poland, regardless of U.S. elections - Polish MP
19:29
Exclusive
Analyst: Putin’s refusal to negotiate with Trump could be beneficial for Ukraine
19:07
Are there direct threats to Ukraine's city of Zaporizhzhia?
18:43
Exclusive
Ukrainian journalist warns of consequences as Russia expands influence in post-Soviet space
More news