The first shipment of F-16s will be delivered to Ukraine this summer

Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anushauskas announced that the first shipment of F-16 fighter jets will be delivered to Ukraine in June 2024 (early summer).

I think we’ll see them [F-16s] in June in Ukraine,” Anouschauskas said.

His words were quoted by the Foreign Policy magazine while this American fighter was supposed to enter the service of the Ukrainian Air Force in the spring of 2023.

During the last few months, Ukraine has asked Western countries, especially the United States, to provide advanced fighters, including the F-16 fighter, to counter Russia’s air superiority in the war. Although US President Joe Biden initially opposed this request, the mediation of NATO member countries has now made Washington soften in this regard.

However, John Mersheimer, the world’s greatest strategist at the moment, considers it useless to send F-16 fighters to Ukraine; First, pilots need years of flying to become experts in flight, and Ukrainian pilots are inexperienced in this field. In the next step, Russia uses advanced missile defense systems, including the S-400 system, which can shoot down any aircraft, including F-16 fighters.

Mearsheimer emphasizes that in the current situation, Ukraine needs to strengthen its artillery power, and Western countries cannot help this country to the extent that Kiev needs in this area. Russia now has 5 to 10 times more artillery power than Ukraine. In wars of attrition, artillery power speaks first.