F-16s can handle Ukrainian airfields, says Air Force spokesperson
U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets will be able to handle Ukrainian airfields, as they had previously landed at the Myrhorod airfield in Poltava Oblast during the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat revealed on Aug. 21.
“They (F-16s) landed on our runways and felt good there,” Ihnat said.
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“Our pilots even had the opportunity to steer, taking the helm of a two-seater combat training aircraft already in the sky. According to this principle, they also made flights on F-15s in Starokostyantyniv, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, in 2018.”
In Ukraine, most military airfields have artificial runways made of concrete slabs with “seams to be smoothed out” between them, Ihnat emphasized.
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“If the runways are properly prepared, there are no problems at all,” the spokesperson said.
“There are still problems for the F-16s with a low-slung air intake that can suck in foreign objects. This is also dangerous and must be taken into account. The aircraft landed in peacetime then and there were no shelling and missile attacks. Currently, protecting aircraft in combat requires different logistics and infrastructure.”
Ukraine has “learned to protect” its planes, which perform missions on a daily basis, and U.S. fighter jets will also operate under those conditions, Ihnat added.
F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots
Ukrainian pilots have already begun training on U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced on Aug. 19. The training involves engineers and technicians, and training will be completed after instructors observe how Ukrainians learn new skills and interact with each other.
Read also: US approves Denmark and the Netherlands transferring F-16s to Ukraine — report
Ukrainian pilots are undergoing F-16 training in the United Kingdom and Sweden, said Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk. Training is also underway in Denmark.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark on Aug. 19-20. Amsterdam and Copenhagen subsequently promised to transfer 61 U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv. The Dutch will provide 42, and the Danish - 19.
Ukrainian pilots have also started training on Sweden-made Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets, while Kyiv and Stockholm agreed to jointly produce CV-90 infantry fighting vehicles.
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