Ukraine’s inventory of Soviet-era jets is aging, with some of the Air Force’s aircraft in service about twice as old as their pilots. “We desperately need additional air-defense systems – short-, medium- and long-range, as well as modern aircraft – to protect the country and achieve air superiority over the occupied territories,” Oleshchuk said. Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk told CNN that Ukrainian air defenses destroy on average about 75% of incoming cruise missiles and attack drones, but that the remainder of the weapons still reach their targets. As winter closes in, concerns remain high that Russian missiles and drones will wreak havoc again. Last winter, Moscow waged an extensive campaign to cripple Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, targeting generating facilities and forcing electricity shutdowns. Ukraine also needs the new fighters to help tackle another set of threats: Russian missiles and drones. Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force Command, says that six months is enough to train pilots to support troops on the ground and help gain air superiority against Russia.Ī US Air Force F-16 fighter jet lands at an airbase in Ben Guerir, about 58 kilometers (36 miles) north of Marrakesh, during the "African Lion" military exercise on June 14, 2021. This will be the biggest deterrent – so that 24 February doesn’t happen again.” “We must build proper air power with Western jets and effectively trained staff. “Even assuming the war ends tomorrow, we all understand it will be just a waiting period for the next round,” Moonfish said. And Ukrainian troops have been fighting – and dying – in a grinding counteroffensive without the kind of air support its leaders say they need. More than 20 months after its full-scale invasion, Russia maintains air superiority over Ukraine. But Kyiv doesn’t expect to receive the planes until early next year, and pilots and ground crews need to complete formal training to operate the jets. In August, after months of lobbying by Kyiv, the US committed to approving the transfer of fourth-generation fighter jets to Ukraine. “We would have had a lot of time to study the jet completely in peacetime, but we do not have the time,” he said, adding there’s enough to master the basic capabilities that Ukraine needs. The F-16 can provide air cover for troops, attack ground targets, take on enemy planes and intercept missiles.īut Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia means the training has to be compressed, Moonfish said. “It’s a very good weapon that can carry out any mission.” “The F-16 is a Swiss Army knife,” said Moonfish, who asked to be identified by his call sign for reasons of operational security. He spoke with CNN via Zoom from an undisclosed location, where he is in his second month of training. Moonfish is the call sign of a Ukrainian pilot who is training to fly the United States-designed multirole aircraft. “Moonfish” – a Ukrainian military aviator – has about six months. It can take years to fully train an F-16 fighter pilot.
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