Ukraine bolsters air defense with Mirage and F‑16 jets arrival
Ukrainian air defense is set to become even stronger. This development follows the arrival of the first French Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets, alongside additional deliveries of Dutch F-16 fighters. Remarkably, news of extra F-16 transfers surfaced mere hours after French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the Mirage 2000-5's dispatch to Ukraine.
The Netherlands confirmed that another batch of F-16 aircraft had reached Ukraine but did not disclose the exact number transferred. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted that the country is steadily expanding its F-16 fleet.
Support from the Netherlands and France
As reported by Defense Romania, Zelensky pointed out that the Netherlands is keeping its promises, moving Ukraine closer to victory while enhancing protection for cities and civilians. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense expressed gratitude for this support, which bolsters the nation’s security.
Just hours before the Dutch announced their delivery, France confirmed the transfer of its first Mirage 2000-5 jets to Ukraine. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu noted that Ukrainian pilots are now ready to defend their national airspace after their training in France.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense highlighted that these modern combat aircraft are already in the country and will soon commence combat missions. This significantly boosts Ukraine’s defensive capabilities against Russian aggression. Though the number of aircraft delivered by the Netherlands and France wasn’t specified, Western allies pledged approximately 80 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, about 20 of which were supplied by the end of last year.
F-16 in Ukraine
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a fourth-generation American multirole fighter jet that has been a mainstay for many air forces since the 1970s. It measures about 49 feet in length and has a wingspan of nearly 33 feet. A single jet engine powers it and can reach a maximum speed of around 1,700 mph. This versatile aircraft can perform various missions, including air combat, ground attacks, and reconnaissance.
The F-16 jets transferred to Ukraine are primarily C/D versions. These aircraft boast advanced avionics and can carry many weapons, including modern air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. They are also equipped with state-of-the-art AN/APG-66 pulse-Doppler radars, which enable them to detect and track targets in the air and on the ground.
It is noteworthy that the training process for Ukrainian pilots and ground personnel to operate the F-16s took several months and received substantial support from Western allies. Thanks to this collaborative effort, Ukraine swiftly integrated these advanced aircraft into its combat operations.
