According to an unnamed high-ranking official from the US Ministry of Defense, the supply of F-16 fighters to Ukraine will not result in the desired air superiority due to the highly effective Russian air defense systems (ADS) and the extensive training required for pilots, as reported by the Washington Post.
The source stated, “If it were possible to train numerous F-16 pilots in three months, they would be eliminated on the first day, as Russian ADS in Ukraine are very reliable and effective.”
The article highlights that the delivery of expensive aircraft and the training of pilots will take at least a year and will not have any impact on the course of events.
Furthermore, the journalists note that even a small number of aircraft worth $60 million each will consume funds that could have been allocated to the purchase of transportation, ADS, or ammunition.
Military analyst Maya Karlin previously stated that Russian forces would utilize their fifth-generation Su-57 fighters against American F-16s in the conflict in Ukraine.
Earlier, NATO outlined the condition for transferring F-16s to Ukraine.
