F‑16 jets mobilized as Russian attacks near Polish border escalate
Russians once again carried out an attack on Ukrainian cities during the night of November 20 to 21 using drones and missiles. Since the towns close to the Polish border were targeted, our F-16 aircraft and those from other NATO countries appeared in the air.
8:56 AM EST, November 21, 2024
The Operational Command reported that due to another massive Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine, standby fighter jet pairs, along with ground air defense and radar reconnaissance systems, were placed on the highest alert level.
Their task is to ensure security in areas bordering threatened regions. The RSZ Operational Command is monitoring the current situation, and the subordinate forces and resources are fully ready for an immediate response.
F-16 planes as drone and cruise missile hunters
One task is to use F-16 aircraft as hunters of drones or cruise missiles, particularly in cooperation with AWACS-type aircraft. This pairing is a much more effective and cost-efficient solution than relying solely on a network of ground-based anti-aircraft systems and radar stations, which have difficulty detecting low-flying targets due to the so-called radar horizon.
It is also worth noting that in the event of detection of an intrusion into Polish airspace, shooting it down is not guaranteed. If the object is expected to crash, for example, in a forest, it makes no sense to waste missiles because each shoot-down carries a risk (fragments and debris must fall somewhere).
Polish F-16C/D aircraft are the Block 52+ variant. They were produced in the 2000s of the 21st century, so they are over 20 years old. They require modernization, but they are still much more advanced machines than the F-16A/B MLU aircraft delivered to Ukraine after modifications. Ukrainian machines are also deprived of encrypted communication reserved for NATO machines.
Characteristic features of Polish F-16s
Polish F-16 aircraft are characterized, among other things, by conformal fuel tanks (distinctive humps), which allow for carrying more weaponry, as they do not occupy a pylon like regular external tanks. Additionally, Polish models are equipped with the AN/APG-68(V)9 radar, J-HMCS helmet-mounted sight, and F100-PW-229 engines.
The armament of Polish F-16s primarily includes medium-range air-to-air missiles, AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM, capable of engaging targets at about 62 miles, and modern short-range missiles AIM-9X Sidewinder. The latter variant is particularly useful for combating drones and cruise missiles.
