F‑16s bolster Ukrainian air defence in battle against drones
Ukrainians are intensively using the limited number of F-16 aircraft delivered to monitor their airspace. Here’s what they are used for.
Below, you can see a recording of the F-16A/B MLU aircraft returning from a mission to its deployment location in Ukraine. Upon frame-by-frame analysis, the plane appears empty except for two internal wing pylons. These can carry a combination of external fuel tanks and targeting or electronic warfare pods.
F-16 in Ukraine — aircraft as a supplement to air defence
Currently, Ukrainians seem to use F-16 aircraft mainly to supplement air defence while hunting drones and cruise missiles. Judging by recordings, strike missions are likely carried out by MiG-29 aircraft.
The reason might be the need for additional training of Ukrainian pilots and the significantly better capabilities for detecting low-flying targets. Even a small number of F-16 aircraft is a massive reinforcement because Ukraine cannot deploy anti-aircraft systems every few dozen kilometres.
It is better to use an aircraft for this purpose, which can patrol an area of a few hundred kilometres. Additionally, Ukrainians may use F-16 aircraft with AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles to shoot down Russian Su-34s carrying glide bombs, which has already happened.
F-16A/B MLU after modifications — NATO retirees feared by Russians
Ukraine received F-16AM/BM aircraft, which underwent Mid-Life Update (MLU) modernization in the 1990s. Additionally, these units were modified before being delivered to Ukraine, including removing certain elements reserved for NATO countries and enriching them with new solutions. As a result, a machine with significantly greater capabilities than standard MLU versions was created.
The models for Ukraine were planned to be adapted to modern weaponry, including French AASM Hammer bombs. The aircraft was also to be equipped with advanced targeting pods like the AN/ASQ-213 HTS, enabling full use of weapons such as AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missiles.
The changes could also have included AN/APG-66 or AN/APG-68 radars and the integration of newer technologies with better performance, such as AN/APG-83 SABR.
The F-16's basic weaponry includes a six-barreled 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon and eleven pylons with a total load capacity of 7,000 kilograms. Two of them, placed on the wing tips, are dedicated to short-range AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. It remains common practice to occupy two to three pylons with targeting pods or electronic warfare and fuel tanks, leaving six available for weaponry.
