2023-05-24 10:29:05
Ukraine could soon have F-16 fighter jets. Some analysts take it for granted. Russia threatens “colossal risks” if the West finally gives them up. But the United States, the manufacturing country, has given its acquiescence and they are already announcing training programs and international coalitions to deliver them. If the Alliance countries finally deliver these fighters to Ukraine, their Armed Forces would have taken a giant leap towards NATO standardization. And they would have a flying machine that is not the most modern, but one of the most efficient. Above all, it allows to carry all kinds of Alliance precision missiles.
“Without a doubt, Ukraine will end up giving the F-16s. The only question is who,” he says Jesús Manuel Pérez Triana, Security and Defense analyst. “It is possible that they will be put in by the Netherlands, which has just mysteriously broken a contract with a private company that buys second-hand warplanes to sell or use as an ‘opposition force’ in military exercises. Everyone suspects they are coming. from there”.
The United Kingdom has announced that it is working on a “international coalition” to help Ukraine acquire F-16 fighter jets. Spain, for the moment, has not ruled. The Air and Space Army does not operate F-16s, but having them in inventory is not a necessary condition to join the “coalition”: some countries will provide money, others fighters, others training… United Kingdom, for example , doesn’t use them either, and has already promised to help. The United States has about 800 F-16s in its fleet.many of them waiting in large hangars in the desert (dry area where they degenerate less).
One of the keys to this system of warfare is the abundance of experienced F-16 technicians, mechanics, and pilots to assist and train the Ukrainians. “At least two Ukrainian pilots have already traveled to the US to study ‘operational conversion’: it is not about teaching people who don’t know how to fly a plane, but about adapting Ukrainian pilots, accustomed to the Mig-29 or Su-27to make the conversion to the F-16″. Ukraine, for the moment, has requested at least 150 of these western fighter jets to replace and modernize the current Ukrainian fighter fleet, made up of units from the post-Soviet era.
The characteristics of the F-16
Technically, the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon It is a single-engine multirole fighter developed by General Dynamics in the 1970s for the United States Air Force. It is one of the best-known war machines in the current war universe, due to its versatility and its proven effectiveness in combat, and it has left an indelible mark on the history of military aviation.
It entered service in the United States in 1978. Since then, the F-16 has been used by numerous nations, establishing itself as a preferred choice for pilots and commanders seeking a high-performance aerial platform. El F-16 Fighting Falcon It is the best-selling single-engine fighter among NATO countries during the last phase of the cold war, says Pérez Triana. “It is the one that you will find most often in Belgium, Norway, Romania, Denmark, Korea, Taiwan, Israel, Pakistan, Egypt…”
One of the most notable features of the F-16 is its agility. Due to its aerodynamic design and its thrust-to-weight ratio, the aircraft is capable of maneuvering more efficiently than many of its competitors. This has been verified in numerous conflicts, such as Operation Desert Storm in 1991 or the NATO missions in the Kosovo War in 1999.
The F-16 features a high performance turbofan (jet with a fan at the front) engine which 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 its efficient weapons system, which allows it to operate quickly in hostile environments.
The advanced electronics is another of the notable features of the F-16. Equipped with a suite of state-of-the-art avionics (multifunction radar, advanced navigation and communication systems, among others), the F-16 provides unparalleled situational awareness for the pilot. This technology allows multiple targets to be detected and tracked simultaneously, giving the pilot a crucial tactical advantage.
In that electronics is one of the unknowns of the foreseeable delivery. “We will have to see the version that is finally given to Ukraine, because the key is not so much the plane, but the plates that are put on it and the missiles it can transport,” explains Pérez Triana.
Over the years, the F-16 has evolved and has undergone constant improvements. Newer variants, such as the F-16 Block 50/52 y el F-16V, they incorporate state-of-the-art technologies such as improved avionics systems, interoperability with other aircraft, and increased survivability.
The important thing is that everyone the missiles delivered by the Alliance will be “plug and play”, that is, they will work directly as soon as they are placed, without the need to make adaptations in the planes, as has happened to be able to operate the British Shadow Storm long-range missiles in the Ukrainian Migs. In this sense, the F-16 has nine external anchor points to carry a wide variety of weapons and payloads: from air-to-air missiles to laser-guided bombs.
Impact of the F-16 on the war
In a potential air conflict with Russia, the F-16 could play a number of roles. For example, can intercept and neutralize air threatssuch as 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 of its variants, such as the f-16 Block 30/32, can specialize in this type of mission and obtain relevant information on enemy capabilities on the ground.
NATO standards
The F-16 has been widely adopted and used by several member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, making it a highly connected 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 operate in network and share information with other allied platforms and systems, which improves situational awareness and coordination in real time during joint missions.
The F-16 follows, for example, the Tactical Data Link (TDL) protocols), which enable the secure and rapid exchange of information 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.
El F-16 en Iraq o Kosovo
Throughout its decades in service with different armies around the world, the F-16 has been instrumental in numerous armed conflicts. In the Operation Desert StormDuring the Persian Gulf War, the United States relied on them for ground attack and air defense missions, providing air support to troops and destroying enemy tactical objectives.
Years later, in the Kosovo conflict in 1999, the Operation Allied Force it relied on NATO F-16 aircraft to weaken Serbian military and logistical capabilities and protection of the civilian population. And more recently, allied F-16s have led strike operations on 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 various variants since the 1970s.. Israel is known for its use of this aircraft in different scenarios and tailored for your specific needs.
Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark are the main European operators of these combat aircraft and the strongest candidates to hand over their units to the Ukrainian army.
Pilot training, a key aspect
Training to become an F-16 pilot is a rigorous and demanding process that combines theoretical training, simulator and real flight. The North American standards to be able to pilot one of these machines have four phases; pre-education, initial training, simulator, real flight and tactical entertainment. Each of these stages it can last from 6 to 12 months, a period that in the case of the Ukrainian crew members will be visibly shortened.
The United States places strict security requirements and export controls on its combat aircraft, including the F-16, due to intelligence considerations and advanced military technology. These requirements are designed to protect classified information and technological capabilities of aircraft and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.
In the case of the F-16, the United States conducts a detailed evaluation and review process to ensure that the recipient of the aircraft and their pilots are trusted allies and meet safety commitments. These requirements and considerations are designed to protect the national security interests of the United States and ensure that the F-16’s advanced military technology and capabilities do not fall into unauthorized hands or be exploited to the detriment of international security.
On the 19th, the United States announced its authorization for 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 aspect to ensure the safety and effective use of these powerful aircraft.
One of the main aspects considered in the security requirements is the previous experience of receiving pilots in similar aircraft. Familiarity with advanced weapons systems and comparable combat aircraft is a determining factor in demonstrating pilots’ ability to operate these sophisticated aircraft.
The United States establishes agreements to provide specific training programs, either in the receiving country or in collaboration with the exporting country. These programs focus on developing the technical skills and knowledge necessary to operate the aircraft safely and efficiently.
Storm Shadow Compatibility
UK has 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 does not have the ability to fire the Storm Shadow, used primarily by strategic combat aircraft such as the Panavia Tornado and Dassault Rafale. These aircraft are equipped with specific weapon systems and hardpoints to carry and launch the Storm Shadow missile.
However, the F-16 has the capability to use a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-surface weaponry, such as AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, guided and unguided bombs, and AGM cruise missiles. -65 Maverick, among others.
#War #Ukraine #F16 #fighters #Ukraine #fire #precision #missiles #NATO #standards