The US is believed to send Ukraine a series of weapons to equip F-16 fighter jets, including the advanced AIM-9X missile, dubbed “Snake of the Sky”.
Western media reported this week that Ukraine appears to have received its first batch of F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands. The US is also reportedly preparing to send a batch of US-made weapons to help Ukraine equip its F-16s.
Among these weapons is the AIM-9X, or Sidewinder, a short-range air-to-air weapon manufactured by the US defense company Raytheon. It can be launched from aircraft as well as ground-based systems and is compatible with a variety of jets including the F-16, F-22, and F-35.
With its fast flight speed and accurate infrared seeker, the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile is nicknamed “Snake of Fire in the Sky”. The AIM-9X is used in the air forces of about 40 countries and territories.
Other missiles shipped with the F-16 include the AGM-88 HARM air-to-ground missile. There are also longer-range versions of the JDAM that transform unguided bombs into more precision-guided weapons.
The aid package will also include multiple advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAMs).
A Pentagon spokesman said that in a new military aid package announced by the US Department of Defense earlier this week, $200 million was used to provide Ukraine with weapons, including air defense interceptor missiles and anti-tank weapons.
The Pentagon also announced a $1.5 billion aid package for Ukraine’s long-term needs. The package includes ammunition for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, also known as NASAMS and other short- and medium-range air defense munitions.
In particular, the AIM-9X missile can be launched from NASAMS for short-range air defense.
The AIM-9X and AMRAAM missiles would give Ukraine’s F-16s an advantage in any short-range air battle with Russia, said Jacob Parakilas, head of the European defense and Security Research Group at the RAND Corporation.
However, this type of combat is rarely seen in Ukraine, as both Kiev and Moscow keep their aircraft far from the front lines, out of range of their opponents’ long-range ground-based missiles, Parakilas said.
“Instead, the AIM-9X would likely be useful in attacking Russian cruise missiles and drones headed toward Ukraine’s cities and critical infrastructure. In other words, Kiev would have an additional layer of defense against those persistent threats,” Parakilas added.
Western-funded F-16 fighter jets will also help Ukraine maintain its air defense capabilities, according to Kiev officials.
However, officials and experts say the F-16s are meant to support Ukraine but are not a comprehensive solution to counter the steady gains Russia has made along the eastern front in recent months.