American F‑16s arrive in Ukraine: Game changer or match for MiGs?

The first American F-16 fighter jets have already arrived in Ukraine. Although the Russians had ample time to prepare for this transfer, the question remains: How do Moscow's best machines fare in direct confrontation against the F-16? Ukrainian military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko has assessed this.

Now that the F-16 aircraft have been delivered to Ukrainian soldiers, official photos showing these long-awaited machines have appeared online. Although their numbers are insufficient to dominate Russia in the air entirely, the presence of American equipment in Ukraine instills greater hope for changing the situation on the front in Kyiv's favor.

But does Russia have the weaponry to counter Ukraine's new F-16s? Analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko thinks so. He points out that in actual combat conditions, F-16 fighter jets will be comparable to Russian MiG-31BM jets.

Due to their radar range and other factors, Ukrainian F-16s will be practically on par with the most dangerous Russian MiG-31BM. In a confrontation with Su-27/30/34/35 and MiG-29/39, the Ukrainian F-16 will have an advantage, says Kovalenko, quoted by the Ukrainian agency Unian.

Kovalenko emphasizes that the Russian armed forces possess R-37 missiles with a declared range of 125 to 186 miles, which have managed to shoot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 from a distance of 132 miles at least once. While this does not mean that the Russians will quickly shoot down the F-16 with this missile, it indicates that Moscow has ways to respond to the new threat in the air.

However, it's significant that during the 132-mile shootdown, the MiG-31BM collaborated with an A-50 radar aircraft, which enabled the missile to be guided at such a long distance. After the Ukrainians destroyed several machines, the Russians kept the A-50 far from the front. Nevertheless, according to the experts, the MiG-31BM is considered the aircraft that, under actual conditions, can respond to an attack from the F-16.

Official photos and recordings of the F-16 handover to Ukraine show that American machines are armed with short-range AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and medium-range AIM-120 AMRAAMs. Additionally, the jets are equipped with extra fuel tanks under their wings to achieve an excellent range for conducting missions.

An unusual yet very modern addition to the Ukrainian equipment is the ECIPS/CJS electronic warfare pod, designed to increase crew survivability during flights. The F-16's excellent maneuverability, determined by its low empty weight of 17,637 lbs and maximum speed of approximately 1,553 mph, remains significant in this context.