F‑16 vs su‑30: Expert weighs in on aerial advantage in Ukraine skies

Western F-16 fighter jets will soon appear over Ukraine, and their potential adversaries may include Russian Su-30SMs. Can a clear favourite be identified in this confrontation? Former Indian Air Force pilot Anil Chopra shared his insights.

This is not the first time an expert's opinion has been sought in comparing the capabilities of the F-16 with Russian designs. Recently, American aviator Jeffrey Fisher commented on the American designs. The expert compared them to the most modern designs currently found in Russia, namely the Su-57.

The pilot from the United States pointed out that in this matchup, the F-16 holds the advantage. It is worth noting, however, that the Russians do not possess many Su-57s. They currently have about 10 of these, making it highly probable that the American machines will face other fighter jets in the air—primarily the Su-30SM and Su-35. A former military pilot from India assessed their effectiveness in light of the F-16.

Chopra notes that comparing the Su-30 to the F-16 is not entirely appropriate. "It's like comparing apples and oranges," he explains. He points out that the performance of the Su-30SM should be compared to the F-15. Comparing the F-16 makes more sense when evaluating the capabilities of the MiG-29.

The difficulty in comparing the F-16 and the Su-30 stems from the fact that the Russian design is much larger than the American one. As a result, it is a fighter jet that is much easier to detect, not only by radar but also visually. According to Chopra, the Su-30 does have an advantage over the F-16 in terms of maneuverability at high angles of attack and quicker weapon targeting. "The Su-30 demonstrates greater agility and carries a larger payload," comments Chopra.

However, the F-16 has a better missile arsenal at its disposal. "Currently, the American AIM-120 outperforms the Russian R-77 in range," he stated, emphasizing that American F-16s will likely constantly be in the crosshairs of MiG-31 interceptors, each armed with six long-range missiles.

"The pilot's skills will be the decisive factor in aerial confrontations," Chopra explains. The expert notes that the F-16s sent to Ukraine will not have "the advanced radars and systems found in Block 70/72 variants" but will still stand a chance against Russian aircraft.

According to the Indian pilot, Ukraine's chance lies in a specific strategy involving rapidly approaching the enemy and firing a long-range missile, followed by returning to base. Ultimately, however, Chopra does not speak very favourably about the American F-16s and states outright that in most scenarios, Russian fighters could pose a significant threat to Ukrainians.

The F-16s that will be delivered to the Ukrainian armed forces are approximately 32 feet long and have a wingspan of about 49 feet. The American fighter jet, which accelerates to speeds of about Mach 2 (approximately 1,500 mph), has nine weapon stations for mounting armaments.

In comparison, the Su-30, which, according to the expert, is not a direct competitor to the F-16, measures nearly 72 feet in length and has a wingspan of 48 feet. Additionally, it can carry weapons on 12 stations.