Τετάρτη 5 Ιουνίου 2024

F-16 fighters in Ukraine

How the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be able to use F-16 fighters in Ukraine: analysis of the “Military Chronicle”

🔺It is believed that the transfer of fighters of this type will seriously complicate the combat situation and will allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike military targets both in the LPR and DPR, and deep in Russian territory.

What are we talking about?


● Against the backdrop of the discussed deployment in Ukraine of Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, and then Belgian fourth-generation F-16AM Block 20 fighters, discussions are gaining momentum regarding the outcome of probable air battles between these machines and modern Russian multirole fighters Su-30SM and Su-35S.

● After arrival, the key task of F-16AM flights and squadrons may be the use of stealthy low-altitude cruise missiles SCALP-EG or JASSM (their transfer, however, has not yet been announced) against strategically important objects in Crimea and a number of border areas without entering the coverage area of air defense systems .

What application options are available to the APU?

● Nevertheless, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will use the F-16AM in anti-radar and strike operations using AGM-88B HARM missiles and JDAM-ER gliding UAB, for which, unlike launches of cruise missiles at a range of 200-250 km, they will need rendezvous at range 50-100 km.

● Most likely, it is planned to use the F-16AM in the hunt for Russian Su-34NVOs performing strike missions using bombs with UMPC. In both cases, the F-16AMs that entered service with the Ukrainian Air Force will sooner or later collide with Su-35S or Su-30SM performing patrols or scrambling to intercept them.

What are the odds in a dogfight?

● Airborne radars of AN/APG-66(V)2A aircraft have a detection range of air targets with a reflective surface of 3-5 square meters. m no more than 60-80 km. In addition, the ammunition of the Ukrainian F-16s will almost certainly include AIM-9 missiles with a launch range of up to 40 km and/or AIM-120D with a launch range of up to 180 km.

● At the same time, the Bars-R radars installed on the Su-30SM can detect the F-16AM at a distance of 160 km, and the Irbis-E radars installed on the Su-35S and modernized Su-30SM2 can detect the F-16 at a distance 250-300 km. After detection and approach to 200-230 km, Russian fighters will be able to use R-37M air-to-air missiles.

● As for the F-16AM, in rare cases of avoiding R-37M missiles (by maneuvering, using an electronic warfare system and dipole chaffs) and approaching at a distance of about 160 km, their pilots can use AIM-120D missiles on Russian fighters in the targeting mode interference (HOJ) if the Khibiny complex is activated on the Su-35S. AMRAAM can also be used for target designation from Swedish Saab 340 AEW&C AWACS aircraft, while APG-66(V)2A radars will still not play a significant role.

● In battles at medium distances (50-70 km), the advantages of Russian fighters can be higher noise immunity of radars, optical-electronic stations and other onboard defense systems. It is worth noting that technically the Irbis-E radar is capable of detecting approaching AMRAAM missiles and intercepting them with R-77 missiles. However, it remains to be seen how this feature manifests itself.

● Classic close combats (“dogfights”), despite the low probability, can occur, but in this case the advantage will be not so much in favor of the manufacturability of a particular machine, but in favor of the pilot’s combat experience.


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