Ukraine revealed its first F-16 fighter jets on August 4, as announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking the end of a long wait for the Western aircraft that Kyiv deems essential for defending its airspace against Russia.
According to various reports and social media footage, Zelenskyy stated, “These jets are in our skies, and now you see them. “It’s good that they are here and that we can use them.”
The F-16 is a versatile aircraft that recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The type has seen numerous upgrades over the years. Zelenskyy did not specify which nations supplied Ukraine with its first F-16s or the exact number received. However, the Netherlands and Denmark have spearheaded the initiative, pledging to be the first to deliver these jets to Ukraine. Belgium and Norway have also committed to providing F-16s. Allies have promised over 60 F-16s, though their delivery will be phased.
Following pressure from allies, the Biden administration only approved the European decision to send F-16s to Ukraine in August 2023. The U.S. itself is not supplying F-16s but must authorize the transfer of U.S.-made weapons.
Washington has imposed restrictions on how Ukraine can use the advanced weaponry it has received. It is uncertain if the U.S. and its allies will permit Ukraine to use these aircraft against Russian targets or within Russian territory.
The non-stealthy, fourth-generation F-16 faces limitations, particularly against advanced Russian surface-to-air missiles. Ukraine must also safeguard these aircraft from being destroyed on the ground. U.S. officials and airpower experts have cautioned that F-16s alone will not swiftly alter the conflict’s dynamics. It won’t be an instant game-changer; simply having F-16s won’t immediately grant air superiority.
The showcased jets on August 4 were equipped with (Air Intercept Missile) AIM-120 AMRAAM radar-guided medium-range air-to-air missiles and AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared short-range air-to-air missiles. The capabilities of these weapons vary by variant. The jets in Ukraine seemed to carry the AIM-9L model. The U.S. Air Force and other NATO countries used the advanced AIM-9X, featuring lock-after-launch, improved maneuverability, and enhanced countermeasures. In May 2022, the U.S. approved the sale of 138 Sidewinders to the Netherlands for its newly acquired F-35s. The order included 95 Raytheon AIM-9X Block II missiles and 43 improved Block II+ missiles.
Ukraine’s F-16s are expected to use HARM anti-radiation missiles, laser guided Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) smart bombs. The JDAM can attack fixed targets using GPS satellite navigation alone if laser guidance is not available or can attack moving targets by homing in on the laser beam from a separate laser designator aboard aircraft or on the ground. With the F-16, Ukraine will be able to deploy these weapons more effectively and boost its operational capacity against Russia.