According to Ukraine’s Defense Express publication, the country will not be able to purchase F-16 aircraft until 2025, leaving the Ukrainian air force to rely solely on the MiG-29.
According to Ukraine’s Defense Express publication, the country should not expect to get F-16 fighter fighters before 2025. Simply because it takes Ukraine too long to run this type of fighter. The Ukrainian side specifically thinks it takes too long and costs too much money to train personnel, including pilots and ground specialists.
In addition, Ukraine must construct a significant amount of new infrastructure in order to operate the F-16 fighter in accordance with NATO standards. The most likely choice for the Ukrainian Air Force right now, according to Defense Express magazine, is to rely on MiG-29 jets, which are now the country’s most advanced mainline fighters.
The Ukrainian side should place a list of spare parts and accessories for the MiG-29 on the list of receiving aid from the West, according to Ukrainian media, instead of hoping to get NATO-standard fighter aid. Since many NATO members still operate MiG-29 jets today, replacement parts are plentiful. These spare parts allow Ukraine’s MiG-29 planes to continue operating for a long time at high intensity.
Additionally, a fresh piece of evidence recently emerged when the Ukrainian side stated that it had deployed American anti-radiation weapons with MiG-29 planes, leading many to assume that Ukraine did not require adversarial jets. West, but just the Western aircraft weaponry. Western air-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles will be able to be fitted into the MiG-29 fighter, opening up a new fighting capability for this aircraft, thanks to the skills of Ukrainian engineers.
Over Ukraine, Russia has primarily used fighters from the 4++ generation, primarily the Su-30, Su-35, and Su-34. In essence, the MiG-29 jet from Ukraine can “sit on the same tray” as Russian combatants. Additionally, the Ukrainian air force and air defense continue to present some challenges for the Russian side with the use of long-range anti-aircraft missiles.
Therefore, Ukraine might proceed in the path of boosting its own strengths, by effectively utilizing the MiG-29 fighter with NATO weaponry, and strengthen air defense capabilities, rather than seeking aid for NATO-standard jets.
