Ukrainian pilots and ground crews have developed innovative tactics, methods, and procedures that maximize the combat readiness of F-16 fighters, Air and Space Forces Magazine reports.
The publication says that earlier this month a Ukrainian F-16 pilot with the callsign "AB" visited the US Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and spoke about the important role of F-16 fighters in defending Ukrainian airspace.
According to him, Ukrainian pilots have already carried out hundreds of successful air engagements, repelling attacks by Russian missiles and drones.
“Ukraine’s small fleet of F-16s, flown by a comparably small number of F-16 pilots, now fly roughly 80 % of all Ukrainian Air Force sorties, demonstrating both the reliability of the Vipers and the remarkable skill of Ukraine’s Airmen,” the article says.
The piece notes that although the Ukrainian Air Force did not receive the newest F-16 variants and operates in conditions “that would test even advanced air forces,” Ukrainian pilots are showing strong results in fights against aerial targets as well as in conducting strikes on ground targets.
The F-16 pilot said that Ukrainian aviation currently has an acute need for more powerful, more effective electronic warfare systems and countermeasures, given how actively the enemy is developing this area.
The article also notes that Ukraine is successfully implementing the so‑called Agile Combat Employment concept, in which air forces are forced to operate dispersedly and under constant enemy strikes.
"As Russia adapts to Ukrainian tactics, so too will China, North Korea, and Iran, all of which are taking note as Russia fights on. Every day that the U.S. hesitates to provide full and unrestricted support to Ukraine’s airpower efforts is another opportunity for these potential adversaries to learn how to counter Western combat capabilities. The sooner the United States fully commits to ensuring Ukraine’s success, the stronger our own national defense posture will be," the article says.
