F-16s would be more effective with MiG-29 modernization

He spoke about this on Espreso TV.

"I started saying back in the second half of 2023 that the F-16 topic was highly politicized, and now – silence. These jets are flying, performing combat missions, but the discussions about the idea that we’ll get F-16s now and solve all problems tomorrow, as I had warned, won’t happen. 

We have Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft, which need certain modernization to the latest standards, and we’ll have many warplanes necessary for the Ukrainian Air Force to perform serious tasks. F-16s are there, they’re working, but not as effectively as if our aircraft were modernized," emphasized the president of the Ukrainian Aviation Association.

Hennadiy Khazan noted that if Ukrainian aircraft could perform certain tasks, there would be no need to ask for permission or approval to use them on Russian territory.

• On December 13, during a massive Russian attack, a Ukrainian F-16 pilot made history by destroying six Russian cruise missiles in a single combat mission.