F‑16s arrive in Ukraine but lack crucial tactical upgrades
Ukrainian aviation expert Walerij Romanenko summarized the initial weeks of F-16 fighter jets' presence in Ukraine. In his assessment, although the American machines have undeniable advantages, they are not changing the dynamics on the front line yet because they haven't been equipped with the best features.
F-16 fighter jets are one of the weapons Ukrainians have awaited the longest. This delay was not only due to the West's challenges in allocating and adequately preparing these machines but also because the necessary infrastructure and pilot training had to be established. The first F-16s arrived in Ukraine at the end of July. Initially, there were only a few units, but more are expected to arrive in the coming months. While the scale of the first delivery was thoroughly discussed, Romanenko believes that this wasn't the sole issue.
F-16 in Ukraine
"It's not about quantity but quality. Firstly, we did not receive the Link-16 tactical information system for these aircraft, and we were counting on the informational superiority of the F-16 over Russian aircraft. Secondly, we haven't mastered flying with radars in the form of AWACS. They would help our planes avoid Russian fighter ambushes," Romanenko emphasized, as quoted by the Unian agency.
Link-16 is a tactical data transmission standard, the main data exchange system used by NATO countries and U.S. allies. The West decided not to make it available to Ukrainians due to concerns that it could fall into Russian hands, enlightening them about one of NATO's important tools.
The F-16 fighters transferred to Ukraine are modified variants of the F-16A/B MLU (Mid-Life Update). They come with improved radars and are primarily adapted to work with AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, with a range of about 100 kilometres. Romanenko also expressed a positive opinion about the capabilities of these missiles.
AWACS aircraft for Ukraine
Regarding AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft, exceptional support was announced by the Swedish government, which declared it would provide Ukraine with two Saab 340 AEW&C planes. These machines can stay airborne for about five hours and are equipped with the Erieye AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar.
