F‑16s arrive in Ukraine but experts doubt game-changing impact

F-16 fighter jets should soon start arriving in Ukraine. The long-awaited aircraft, however, are still a topic of discussion among experts who recently claimed that, in fact, the F-16 will not be a turning point in the war.

The Ukrainian agency Unian reminds that Kyiv has been appealing to allies for over two years to send F-16 fighters to the front. Finally, the wait will be over, as the first aircraft should arrive in the war-torn country within the coming weeks.

Although the F-16s will likely soon be over Ukraine, the defenders will still face a strong opponent. Reuters explains that delays in the transfer of the fighters allowed the Russian Federation to prepare for the arrival of the F-16, making it easier for the aggressor to defend against the threat. Analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko recently confirmed this, noting that the F-16 may face greater challenges in combat along the eastern line or the northeastern border.

"It's necessary to separate symbolism from actual battlefield impact. The F-16 will be useful but modest, especially at first," said Mark Cancian, an expert from the Center For Strategic & International Studies. Justin Bronk from the Royal United Services Institute expressed a similar sentiment. "You can have many fast jets, but if they don't carry effective weapons and crews that know how to use them with effective tactics, they will simply be shot down en masse," he asserts.

The F-16 fighters will undeniably be valuable support for Ukraine, but their presence will not be a turning point in the war with Russia—according to a Reuters publication. It's also significant that not only proper training and use in combat are crucial but also their protection when they are not flying.

Experts unanimously note that the Russians have been hitting all potential airfields and bases where F-16s might be stationed for weeks. The attacks also include efforts to destroy runways and infrastructure, which is important because, as an American pilot previously commented—"F-16s are prima donnas". They require specific maintenance and suitable conditions for taking off. American F-16s need a flat runway, free of any irregularities. Even minor damage from Russian shelling could effectively ground the F-16s before they even take off.

Let's recall that the eagerly awaited F-16s by Ukrainians are aircraft that can carry weapons on nine underwing weapon stations. These can hold several air-to-ground guided missiles (such as the AGM-65 Maverick) and air-to-air radar missiles like the AIM-120 AMRAAM, which in the coming months will be delivered as a priority by the USA to Ukraine's armed forces, as well as Mk82/84 bombs weighing up to 2,000 lbs in the case of the latter variant.

The F-16 also boasts significant maneuverability. The fighter accelerates to a speed of approximately 1,550 mph and weighs relatively little. Its empty weight is just 17,637 lbs. The maximum range of the American aircraft in the basic variant is 1,988 miles, while equipping the F-16 with additional fuel tanks boosts this value to 2,610 miles.