Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s call for fighter jets in Britain is surprising, as until now the Ukrainian Air Force has been asking for American F-16s, or perhaps Sweden’s Gripen, fighters that could help them win the war, writes journalist Dan Sabbagh of The Guardian.

The Royal British Air Force does not operate either of the two aircraft, but has 146 Typhoons out of approximately 580 worldwide.

The Typhoon is available in much smaller numbers than the F-16, and Germany’s involvement as a manufacturer could complicate exports to Ukraine, given Berlin’s hesitation over the tanks.

The other fighter jet used by the UK, the F-35, is made by US company Lockheed Martin and is so new and expensive that any decision to re-export it will be made by Washington. It just wouldn’t be as cost effective as the F-16.

But Zelenskyi’s appeal may be broader – an attempt to persuade Britain to lobby for help for Ukraine to get F-16s from the US – while London meanwhile helps with initial training of pilots in simulators to begin testing.

The Air Force of Ukraine performs few combat missions

The West’s decision last month to provide Western tanks to Ukraine was a step in supporting allies and was backed by Britain, which quickly stepped forward and offered to supply its own Challenger 2 tanks to force Germany to follow suit.

Meanwhile, the military reality is that Western aircraft will dramatically increase Kyiv’s chances of ousting the Russians. For now, Ukraine’s small air force, which flies perhaps ten sorties a day, must operate with restraint, in part because of the threat from Russian air defense systems and the greater range of air-to-air missiles. enemy.

Ukraine wants the F-16 mainly because of its wide availability, with more than 3,000 such aircraft in 25 countries, and it mentioned the Gripen because it is a powerful aircraft, easy to maintain and designed to fight Russian aircraft.

Although Russian air defense forces will not facilitate the bombing of enemy positions, this action will increase Ukraine’s offensive capabilities, which are already greatly facilitated by the supply of Western artillery and rocket artillery.

Western technology tips the scales of war

Kyiv knows that in order to win the war, it must do it more technologically than Moscow, and not rely on outdated Soviet-era equipment.

As Ukrainian Ambassador to Great Britain Vadym Prystaiko recently stated, “a small Red Army cannot defeat a large Red Army,” concludes The Guardian journalist. (news.ro)

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