Ukraine's Armed Forces Say F-16 Fighters Will Be Unsuitable by 2024

According to RIA Novosti on April 4, a senior Ukrainian officer told Politico (USA) that the US F-16 fighter jets will no longer be suitable for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in combat conditions in 2024.

The serviceman complained that Ukraine often did not receive some weapons systems in time and when they were delivered, they were “no longer suitable.” For example, the F-16 fighter jets.

"Every weapon has its time. We need F-16 fighters in 2023, but they will no longer be relevant in 2024," said an officer in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

At the same time, according to this officer, Russia has also prepared for the appearance of US fighter jets. Accordingly, the Russian air defense force is planning to fight the F-16, calculating the optimal arrangement of air defense systems to defeat these fighter jets.

The Netherlands, Denmark and other NATO countries are in the process of donating several dozen early-model F-16 fighter jets, which have been retired from service, to Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that the US and NATO countries create the risk of direct armed conflict, causing many catastrophic consequences. According to Mr. Lavrov, Ukraine's possession of F-16 fighters capable of carrying nuclear weapons will be considered by Russia as a nuclear threat from the West.

According to RIA Novosti, F-16s equipped with AIM-120A air-to-air missiles will be at a disadvantage against MiG-31s ​​equipped with long-range R-37M air-to-air missiles in the skies over Ukraine.

The MiG-31 has four under-fuselage hardpoints and four under-wing hardpoints, capable of carrying up to 9,000kg of air weapons.

The MiG-31's most formidable air-to-air weapon is the R-37 missile, with a speed of Mach 6 and an effective range of up to 400km. In addition, the MiG-31BM is also equipped with long-range R-33 air-to-air missiles and short-range R-73 air-to-air missiles.