F-16s Finally Arrive in Ukraine -- 'Small Numbers'

Bloomberg reports F-16s have finally arrived in Ukraine but in small numbers.

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[Chuck_Hooks]

Russia is saying they were all just downed.

[ShadesofGreen]

I guarantee you that they are further ahead than the Press know about.

[ropeburnsrussell]

I would have kept it quiet, myself.
Safe flying, fellas!

[RobCrawford]

From what I have read most of the delays are due to training enough maintenance crews, setting up maintenance facilities and spares.

The other issue is that it's not enough to do a conversion course for the pilots, every action needs to occur purely on instinct, no thinking about which switch to flip or to choose the right option on a display.
That takes considerably longer than aircraft conversion courses.

Also Ukraine used to fly under the Russian combat doctrine (after all that's who trained and equipment supplier) and the aircraft are built to follow that doctrine.

The pilot also has to learn the current strategies to use the aircraft and weapons to their best advantage, that also takes time.

The pilots and aircraft are too scared to squander on half arsed training

[lajoyalobos]

The F-16 is legendary for its role in SEAD and Wild Weasel missions, and I believe the pilots have been trained for that role as well. In addition, the F-16 also has better air-to-air range than the current Ukrainian Mig-29s so they'll also likely be used as a sort of air-based "Patriot system". The Russians in Belgorod will probably be happy that faulty FAB500s won't be dropped on their city anymore. Bombing runs are more risky and taking out Russian air defense first is more of a priority. Once Russian air defense is gone and their air force has been whittled down, Ukraine can start having a semblance of air superiority.

[rjs]

The Fighting Falcon, the Swiss Army knife of jets...this is long, long overdue! 🇬🇧🇺🇦

[firetecstudios]

If they only got 32 km range AMRAAMs that's fucking terrible news. Then these would be next to useless. If they ACTUALLY got proper AMRAAMs that'd be great...

[snapdragon]

Just the fact that they're in Ukraine now will factor into Russian decision making going forward. They might not care about losing infantry by the hundreds every day but something tells me that Russia will be far more cautious about risking their limited number of trained pilots and aircraft now that F-16s can show up anywhere, anytime.
Glory to Ukraine!
Glory to the heroes!
From the United States 👍
🇺🇸/🇺🇦

[paulfrance]

If Sweden has already sent the 2 Saab 340 AEWCS they promised and GB supplies the longrange MBDA Meteor air to air missile, it could prove very worrying for the Russian airforce.

[rolandmartin]

As a Belgian and a European, I am so ashamed that our democratic and human values ​​are still valued at a discount - "small numbers" - to fight and defeat the empire of absolute evil, of nothingness and of the absence of a future. Really shameful, sad and disappointed.

[edl]

That 20 miles range for the AMRAAM is most likely incorrect. AIM-120 B variants of the AMRAAM have an approximately 50 miles range, this being an older model. Current models C and D improve on that range significantly. The AIM-9 with the most current model being the X have a range of about 20 miles though the actual numbers are classified. Note, the WSJ though it is a good newspaper, they have few ex-military folks on staff, and the "senior US official" may also not necessarily by a USAF weapons expert. Either could have mixed up the range numbers between the AIM-120 and AIM-9.

[jt]

Actual numbers would be played down to deceive the enemy.

[christiancurec]

Sucho - Romania just announced that they found the scrap from another two drones in the Danube Delta, and this raises the total number of drones to 4. Probably shot by the Romanian Ghepard that was operating there.
Official line is that the Ukrainian AA clipped them and they fell over Danube, in Romania...

[iare]

100% they are not staying in Ukraine. 19 pilots trained, they can't risk anything.

[nickloveridge]

Media sources should not be allowed to know if and when certain military assets are introduced to Ukraine.

[Mwwwwwwwwe]

"🎵🎵🎵 boom boom boom boom a JDAM in your room" (to the tune of the vengaboys)

[stuartmc]

According to Anders Puck Nielsen, based on Ukraine's size, they'd need approximately 300 F-16s to protect themselves. So this is really only a drop in the bucket, but better than nothing.

[dirtydish]

FAB500 - FAB3000 deliveries might be paying a heftier tax in the coming months.

[pinball]

It shouldn't have taken 2.5 years...

[Kodakcompactdisc]

Putlers bridge is falling down falling down falling down 🎵