Ukraine gears up to shield F‑16s from Russian threats with decoys and bunkers
The delivery of F-16 fighters to Ukraine, a long-awaited development, is drawing near. However, with the imminent arrival of these advanced weapons on the battlefield, concerns arise about the defending army’s ability to safeguard the aircraft from Russian forces. Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Ilya Yevlash shares insights on the military's plans to shield F-16s from potential threats.
1:53 PM EDT, April 30, 2024
Many experts and military analysts consider F-16 fighters game-changers in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Their value on the front lines extends beyond their impressive maneuverability, speed, and range. These aircraft are also capable of carrying a formidable array of weaponry, posing a significant threat to Russian forces with their missiles and bomb payloads.
Recently, Ukraine hinted at the imminent reinforcement of its air force with F-16s, though the fighters have yet to be positioned on the frontline. The first batch of these aircraft is scheduled for transfer later this summer. A critical concern for the Ukrainian military will be ensuring these advanced fighters are adequately protected from enemy efforts to target them. Ilya Yevlash, speaking to the Ukrainian Front profile on the X platform, reveals Kyiv’s strategy for defending these valuable assets.
Ukraine's strategy to protect F-16s
F-16s will be stationed in underground bunkers and guarded by fortified hangars, Yevlash discloses, to secure them from Russian offensives. He further notes that the planes will be strategically dispersed across different airports to prevent them from being an easy target. – In addition to spreading out the F-16s, decoys will also be deployed to mislead the enemy, aiming to obscure the exact locations and numbers of the fighters deployed.
Yet, details on the specific bases that will house the fighters remain undisclosed for security reasons.
Embracing a widely used military strategy, Ukraine plans to deploy decoy aircraft to divert enemy resources towards these fake targets. This approach protects real assets and generates uncertainty among adversaries regarding the true strength and numbers of F-16s at Ukraine’s disposal. This ambiguity makes it challenging for the enemy to ascertain the extent of their impact should they manage to destroy any aircraft, unable to distinguish between real fighters and decoys.
It is worth noting that F-16s boast a top speed of Mach 2, equivalent to more than 1243 miles per hour. Their agility enables them to evade enemy fire effectively, thus enhancing pilot survivability. Primarily equipped with the 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon, these American fighters can also carry AIM-9 or AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. Additionally, the option to attach extra fuel tanks under the fuselage extends the F-16’s operational range from approximately 1988 to 2610 miles.
