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The US-made jets delivered to Kiev lack a cutting-edge, according to a force spokesperson
US-made F-16 fighter jets supplied to Ukraine by Western nations cannot fully compete with Russia’s Su-35 multirole fighter in aerial combat, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuri Ignat has said.
Washington approved F-16 deliveries to Kiev in mid-2023, allowing NATO allies to send jets and train Ukrainian pilots.
Speaking to Ukrainian TV channel Novosti.Live on Tuesday, Ignat pointed out “the modifications that Ukraine has cannot compete one-on-one in an air battle. We need a comprehensive approach as the [Russian] Su-35 is a relatively new jet…” he said. “This includes ground-based air defense, electronic warfare systems, and ideally, an airborne radar. Also crucial are onboard radars for our aircraft and air-to-air missiles.”
Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway have pledged to supply Ukraine with 80 F-16s, though most will take years to arrive. In 2024, Ukraine received about 18 aircraft, but one F-16 was lost in August when a veteran pilot was killed in a crash.
The cause remains unclear, with speculation about friendly fire from a Western-provided Patriot missile. Following the incident, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky dismissed the commander of the Air Force.
Kiev expected the F-16s to be a potential game-changer on the battlefield, but outdated radar systems and the absence of the Link 16 tactical network have limited their effectiveness.
Moscow has condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, saying they prolong the war without altering its course. It has also called F-16 deliveries an escalation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the jets would not shift the battlefield situation and said Moscow would consider them legitimate targets if launched from third-country airfields.
