Ukraine wants a powerful fighter fleet from both the US and Europe

The Ukrainian Air Force may soon possess a powerful fleet of fighter jets including not only the US-made F-16 Fighting Falcon, but also European "iron birds" such as the French Dassault Mirage 2000, the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon of the multinational defense corporation MBDA.

The information was given by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in an interview broadcast on national television on September 22.

"We have commitments from our partners on F-16 fighters and commitments on Mirage fighters. Consultations are underway on Gripen fighters as well as Eurofighter jets," the top Ukrainian defense official said.

“This is a strong lineup, and we are discussing the timeline for when they will be delivered. We will have the results soon… and we will let you know,” Umerov added.

French Mirage 2000N and British Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 take part in Exercise Capable Eagle in northern England, 2013. Photo: Aviationist

Weeks after the first batch of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets were delivered to Ukraine, Kiev is in advanced discussions with its international partners about transferring additional Western fighter jets for use in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Minister Umerov noted that Russia is currently using up to 300 planes and a similar number of helicopters in the war against Ukraine, posing a serious challenge to the Ukrainian army.

"That is why we explained to our partners the number of brigades or squadrons we need. In this regard, we also explained to them and justified the platforms we need. In this context, we have worked in the last year to focus on training pilots, on acquiring platforms, on building all the necessary infrastructure," he added.

Notably, all four aircraft mentioned are fourth-generation fighters that are still widely used by air forces of many countries around the world .

The JAS-39 Gripen E “Griffin” serves with the Swedish Air Force, Czech Air Force and Hungarian Air Force, and has been ordered by the South African Air Force and the Thai Air Force. Photo: Aerospace Global News

While the Dassault Mirage 2000 was pledged by French President Emmanuel Macron at an event in June, and the Swedish military recently announced that it was facilitating the future transfer of JAS 39 Gripen fighters to Ukraine; this is the first time the issue of transferring Eurofighter Typhoon fighters has been discussed at such a high level, according to Defense Express.

"This can be considered quite interesting news, since previously Ukrainian officials at such a high level had never publicly mentioned the issue of purchasing these European jets," the Ukrainian military news site said.

An F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet at Rygge Air Base, Norway, November 28, 2023. Photo: Getty Images

However, the National Interest notes that adding any new fighter jets is not a simple matter. There are many reasons behind the decision to transfer additional fighter jets to Ukraine. Kiev’s international partners must first ensure that the Ukrainian Air Force has the capacity and capability to field the new aircraft and maximize their effectiveness, otherwise the move could backfire and damage Ukraine operationally and psychologically.

Adding a new type of fighter requires extensive training for both pilots and maintenance personnel, something the Ukrainian Air Force is struggling with because it is accustomed to flying Soviet and Russian-made aircraft, the prestigious American magazine said.

“Their pilots and support staff lack the necessary technical English skills and struggle to qualify on Western-made aircraft like the F-16. It is likely that the Ukrainian Air Force will face similar challenges with the Dassault Mirage, JAS 39 Gripen, and Eurofighter Typhoon,” the National Interest wrote.

Furthermore, the Ukrainian Air Force needs to introduce the aircraft gradually so that pilots can learn how to fly them in real combat. Otherwise, Kiev risks losing both a valuable aircraft and a skilled pilot to simple mistakes. That happened to Ukraine’s first F-16, and they cannot afford to let that happen on a large scale.

Minh Duc (According to National Interest, Kyiv Independent, Defense Express)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/ukraine-muon-dan-tiem-kich-hung-hau-den-tu-ca-my-va-chau-au-204240923142430991.htm