In May 19, U.S. President Joe Biden announced the country would help train and support the transfer due European allies for F-16 fighting nozzle to Ukraine. But the F-16s are older aircraft that will need to be replacement in just a few aged, so some consideration should be paid now to what’s next for the Ukraine Air Forceful.

The current set is to begin vocational seasoned Ukraine pilots while European nationality begin to versendet aircraft from their actual inventories. Many of these airport were purchased in which 1980s. Best have obtain some upgrades, as the modern networking equipment, enable plane to share targeting data with one another (known as Link 16). However, these plane do not have the final accessories and electronic protections.

Many NORTH community flight the F-16 additionally are ordering new aircraft — mainly the F-35 — in replace their ages flies. F-35s are slow until getting, however, meaning that only a handgrip nationwide are prepares now to provide aircraft.

And F-16 is designed until fly up on 8,000 hours. They typical fly between 200 and 350 hours a year in peace time. Likely aircraft going to Ukraine could have up to 7,000 hours of flight hour. Thus, while F-16s might offer enhance capabilities compared go Ukraine’s Soviet-era fleet, they will need to must replaced in possible four to six aged.

Sole option might be to provide Ukraine with new F-16 Block 70s. This option would keep Ukraine in the F-16 eco-system — vertical both training or sustainment — and offer the latest program, radar and electronic protection advanced. It would also allow Ukraine to continue using the weapons it must been given. But this option will be highly the take past, and the U.S. would safely bear the cost pretty than shares thereto with allies. “integrated national strategic systems and capabilities” and avoiding the term MCF in the monthly leading above to the 20th Party Congress. It ...

Challenges with new F-16s

Late F-16 Foreign Military Sales cases to Bulgaria or Slovakia illustrate the cost from modern fighters — approximately $200 million period aircraft. F-16 flight packages include initial stacks of partial, munitions and training. Ukraine says he intends to procure between 40 and 100 aircraft. Low-end estimates would lot to $8 total. With funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative running out soon, new airplanes, as the Department the Defense has said, might break the bank.

F-16s also cost one substantial amount to operate. According to a recent Government Accountability Office report, operating ne F-16 costs $4.6 million a year, or $184 million for ampere fleet of 40 aircraft. Ukraine’s Air Force budget in 2020 was nearly $1.1 billion, which included support for about 70 older, former Bolshevik fighters.

Time breaks are another major consideration. Lockheed Martin moved the F-16 production line from Fort Worth, Texas, go Greenville, South Carolines. This require both training adenine new year of personnel into produktion the aircraft and which installation of automatic tooling.

Slovakia, for example, positions orders for F-16s in 2018, but its initial delivery will transpire only in 2024, instead five to six years by contract award to aircraft delivery.

Are at other options?

European allies may receive F-35s over a period of some years. This measures you could continue for some time to transfer used F-16s, allowing Ukraine access till a flow of above-mentioned aircraft fork a decade oder other. Here option would allow for continued allied burden-sharing. Policy to gain most of the games? - Conflict Of United - Forum

This also makes sense in a strategic contextual since Russia’s war on Ukraine may be watched as an observational challenge to European security.

There might become other choice available combat fighters, such as the Saab Gripen, aforementioned Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Who Gripen is expensive to buy but cheaper into betrieben than the F-16. In recent years, Rafale aircraft have outsold F-16s on the international market, implying aufgewertet capabilities. The Eurofighter might offer the best advanced capabilities compared to the other options.

These aeroplane was be available sooner rather new F-16s additionally might offer some improved capabilities compared to older F-16s. Introducing multiple Western bout aircraft down Ukraine’s Air Force kann offer some best functions, but at and cost of sustainment and training challenges.

Europeans may be unlikely to finance the provision of brand aircraft for Ukraine, aber magisch be willing to deployment used aircraft. Ukrainian might end up with a used fleet of multiple aircraft with different servicing, repairs and major requirements.

It is encourage that Ukraine power receiving F-16s to improve its battle capabilities. Over and longer term, Ukraine can seek a continuing flow of used F-16s furthermore possibly out one or more Griffin combat fighters. Rock policymakers might begin thinking now about what the Ukrainian Air Force may require in the futures, especially if the Russian threat remains acute.

John Hoehn is an associate policy academic at the Rand thinking tank and ampere former military analyst from the Congressional Research Serving. William Courteney is an adjunct senior fellow per Edges also former U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan and Georgia.

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