Ukrainian military banking on American F‑16s - game changer in the sky over Black Sea

As reported by the Unian agency, Yurii Ignat discussed the army's intentions for the F-16 in battle against the aggressor in one conversation. "We have substantial plans because this multi-purpose plane can perform various tasks to support ground forces," said Ignat.

The Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson states that the fighters will primarily attack high-priority ground targets. These targets are to be eliminated in "various enemy-occupied locations". Additionally, the F-16s are expected to aid Ukrainians in achieving air superiority, particularly required in the Black Sea area.

Remember that recently, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced the initiation of arrangements by the Dutch government to deliver the first batch of F-16s, consisting of 18 aircraft, to the front. However, Newsweek, citing American sources, contradicts this by reporting that these fighters are already in Ukraine and have reportedly been involved in shooting down Russian planes.

The American F-16s have been highlighted by the Ukrainian military previously as well. A few weeks ago, one of their helicopter pilots stated that "F-16s can reshape the power dynamics in the sky and influence the course of the war". These optimistic views about the fighters mainly derive from these machines' arsenal.

The F-16s sport a standard M61 Vulcan 20mm six-barrel cannon and carry AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AGM-88 HARM, and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. Being one of the most widely used combat aircraft globally, the F-16 can reach speeds up to Mach 2 and operate at altitudes up to approximately 49,212 feet. Moreover, it can span nearly 1988 miles, which can be further expanded by attaching additional fuel tanks.