A brand new batch of F-16 fighter jets has been acquired by Ukraine after Dutch Protection Minister Ruben Breckelmans introduced it by way of his official account. Breckelmans wrote that for the primary time, he can formally announce that the primary Dutch F-16s have been delivered to Ukraine. The minister didn’t disclose the variety of F-16s delivered to the Ukrainian Air Power.
The Netherlands promised 24 F-16 fighters to Ukraine. In response to Breckelmans, the remainder of the 24 promised fighters will probably be delivered within the coming months. BulgarianMilitary.com recollects that firstly of August, the top of the Danish Ministry of Protection, Troels Lund Poulsen, confirmed that the primary F-16s had arrived in Ukraine. Denmark intends to ship one other batch by the tip of the 12 months. In whole, Copenhagen promised to ship 19 fighter jets to Kyiv.
In the mean time, there may be one formally confirmed misplaced F-16 fighter from the Air Power of Ukraine. Hypothesis concerning its loss remains to be rife, with some claiming {that a} pilot error led to the loss; others claiming that particles from a drone broken the fighter throughout a mission; and nonetheless others that both pleasant hearth or a Russian missile was the reason for the downing of the Ukrainian F-16.
In late September, some Russian media reported that two extra Ukrainian F-16s had been misplaced whereas attempting to take off from the runway. In response to these claims, a Russian Air Power MiG-31 ambushed the 2 Ukrainian F-16s and destroyed them with missiles. In response to Russian sources, the Russian assault was carried out at Starokostiantyniv airport. So far, there was no official assertion on the destruction of the 2 F-16s by the Russian Ministry of Protection.
The Netherlands has promised Ukraine 24 F-16 fighter jets, believed to be F-16 AM/BM modification plane, often known as Block 20 MLU [Mid-Life Upgrade]. These fighters are modernized variations of the F-16A/B Block 15, which had been a part of the armament of the Netherlands Air Power.
The MLU modifications embody vital enhancements in avionics, management methods, and operational vary, making them appropriate with newer requirements for fight operations. The F-16AM/BM has a size of 15.06 meters and a wingspan of 9.96 meters, and its most take-off weight reaches 19,200 kg. The plane is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 turbojet engine that gives a prime pace of over 2,000 km/h at altitude.
Modified F-16s from Block 20 MLU are outfitted with superior management methods, together with digital flight management methods [Digital Flight Control System – DFCS] and an built-in pilotage-navigation advanced. These methods facilitate the flight crew in executing advanced maneuvers and missions. The fighters are outfitted with the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-66[V]2 radar, which supplies improved air and floor goal detection capabilities and permits efficient weapons use. As well as, the plane encompasses a built-in AN/ALQ-131 self-defense system developed by Raytheon, in addition to methods to counter digital threats, growing the fight survivability of the plane.
When it comes to armament, the Dutch F-16 AM/BM is able to carrying a variety of air-to-air missiles, such because the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder, in addition to floor assault weapons just like the JDAM, GBU-12, and AGM-65 Maverick. The plane has six exterior armament factors and is provided with a 20mm M61A1 Vulcan autocannon.
The operational vary of the F-16AM/BM is about 1,500 km, and this parameter will be elevated with using exterior gas tanks. These plane are particularly designed for multi-role missions, making them beneficial property in trendy fight environments.
The Netherlands can afford the supply of 24 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine due to the gradual alternative of its ageing warplanes with new fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II multirole fighters. Presently, the Dutch Air Power has greater than 40 operational F-35As, and within the coming years, this quantity is anticipated to develop to 52 plane.
The F-35A enormously outperforms the F-16 when it comes to stealth expertise, sensors, radar visibility, and fight management methods. So, even with the deployment of 24 F-16s to Ukraine, the Netherlands is left with a modernized fight plane able to performing airspace safety duties and collaborating in worldwide NATO missions.
The Netherlands’ F-35As are absolutely built-in into NATO’s network-centric fight operations and have superior radar methods, such because the AN/APG-81 AESA, in addition to superior sensors to watch air and floor targets. With their operational vary of round 2,220 km and air refueling capabilities, they supply full safety of the nation’s airspace.
On the identical time, the Netherlands has mechanisms for joint airspace protection inside NATO, the place plane from different allied nations can assist the safety of the Northern European area. Due to this fact, regardless of sending a part of the F-16s to Ukraine, the Dutch protection aviation stays absolutely combat-ready and adequately ready to meet nationwide and allied duties.
In whole, Ukraine has been promised about 61 F-16 fighter jets from varied nations. The principle suppliers to this point are the Netherlands, which has dedicated to 24 plane, and Denmark, which plans to supply 19 F-16s. Norway can be anticipated to hitch the method, with an estimated supply of between 10 and 12 plane. The nations that present these fighters are core NATO members, they usually not solely present the tools but in addition prepare Ukrainian pilots and assist personnel.
For the efficient upkeep of the F-16s, along with the 2 pilots per plane, a major variety of technical personnel can be required. Sometimes, sustaining an F-16 requires a staff of about 20 to 30 individuals, together with avionics technicians, engine, weapons, and digital methods specialists, in addition to logistics assist specialists.
Coaching of Ukrainian technical personnel takes place in allied nations, with the primary coaching facilities within the US and a few European nations, together with Denmark and the Netherlands. There, technicians take intensive programs in sustaining and repairing F-16s, in addition to working with the advanced methods these planes use, together with navigation and fight methods. This preparation is vital to making sure the long-term operational readiness of Ukraine’s plane.
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