A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the the 408th Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, flies a training sortie Sept. 9, 2015, over Germany. US Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jason Robertson/Released
Business Insider: Former F-16 pilot says he would not want to fly missions over Ukraine right now, arguing 'there is no fighting chance'
* Ukraine has repeatedly asked the US for fourth-generation fighter jets like the F-16.
* But air combat experts have argued that these aircraft would have little battlefield impact.
* A former F-16 pilot said these jets don't have a fighting chance given Russia's air defense systems.
Ukrainian officials have long pressed their Western military backers to send them modern fighter jets, arguing Kyiv needs the airpower boost to best the invading Russian forces, and while some in the West agree, others argue fighter aircraft like the ones Ukraine wants wouldn't stand a chance in the current threat environment.
There have been repeated requests for the delivery of American-made F-16s, leading to debates over how effective the fourth-generation plane would be in the skies. One former F-16 pilot told Insider he wouldn't want to attempt to fly missions over Ukraine right now, asserting that the aircraft can't outmatch Russia's air defense systems.
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WNU Editor: This former F-16 pilot's fears are justified. This is a war that fourth-generation fighter jets like the F-16 should avoid.
13 comments:
Yet somehow Ukranian mig 29s , SU 27 are still in the fight
That's why I love all those "ancient", "obsolete" A-10 Warthogs the air force is always trying to unload.
TARGET,
RICH,
R,
Tank at oil refinery in Russia’s Kuban area on fire after drone attack, Kremlin-controlled news agency TASS says. pic.twitter.com/luBc8yk3pf
— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) May 4, 2023
This is an absolutely massive refinery. At least 50 above ground oil tanks. Lots of intake/pipeline infastructure on site, as well.
Looks like at least *one* tank was ignited in the detonation so far. Smoke plume is large. pic.twitter.com/C7F2KE5L1R
The Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) May 4, 2023
I have limited expertise in this matter but this is my thoughts. An F16 stand alone or maybe a pair would be very vulnerable. But if the US swooped in, they would come in a complex operation which would include hundreds of planes with different capabilities working in conjunction with a drone fleet. So WNU might be wrong about the 4th generation fighter if it is a full on NATO operation. I hope we don't find out.
Instead of begging for fighter jets, Ukraine should buy them like any other nation does. But they won't because their government is a corrupt cesspool and no one would buy their bonds. So they beg like the beggars they are. Meanwhile the Ukraine leadership salts away stolen aid money into their overseas accounts.
It isn't a question of payment , it's a question of supply and training . Ypi can't buy if it's not for sale . If youre neighbour wishes to donate you a sports car , you'd say yes.
If I demanded a sports car from my neighbour every single day for a year straight I would expect flaming dogshit on my front door door eventually.
10:31 AM
simmer down, cowboy.
and read some history
Faz is making sense. Was also thinking about those Ukie planes that still exists and still do combat missions to this day.
Saw a clip yesterday from a Ukie pilot doing some CAS.
Probably ripped off Russian footage of the Ukes getting bombed.
Its hard to hide the fact:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/comments/137eo4f/cockpit_footage_of_a_ukrainian_su25_attacking/
one of the mysteries of this war.
Why has Russia, not put forth the full strength of its military into this war. It has not. If it did, there would be a no fly zone over the entire Ukraine. Zelinski would be dead and Kiev would have been Dresdenized.
There are multiple mysteries like these in is war. If a f16 jock says he does not want fly in that zone , then it must be bad. Note, he did not say that he "could not" fly or it was "impossible to fly". So yes you can chance it, but it will not be a cake walk.
True. American and European experience in Libya, i raq and Afghanistan is one of semi clear airspace.
Set up no fly zone. Then operate with almost absolute impunity.
Bosnia was minor.
So, If you look at it the Americans have not faced a significant ADA threat since Vietnam.
Not only significant, but sustained ADA.
You arm chair pilots can crow all you want about fd up Russian ADA systems. But remeber the ukies have not gone into the ruussian interior and faced hardened sites.
That would be a challenge no pilot would look forward to.
Easy to say...yea for our side.... when it is not your neck on the line
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