US fears combat losses in Ukraine could destroy F-16's reputation: US media

The US may suffer serious logistical challenges by supplying Ukraine with advanced fighter jets including F-16s, as there is a possibility that the fighter or its technologies could fall into Russian hands or it could face significant losses in combat, according to an American magazine.

Following months of Ukrainian government requests that Western countries supply it with F-16 fighter aircraft, President Joe Biden on Friday announced that the US will deliver Ukraine advanced fighter jets including F-16s.

The United States has come under growing pressure from its European allies to approve transfers of the aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force.

Biden's announcement came days after Britain and the Netherlands promised an “international coalition” to send Kiev the US-made jets it has long demanded.

Military Watch magazine wrote, “The F-16, although currently being replaced by the newer fifth-generation F-35, has for decades been the primary fighter fielded across much of NATO as well as by key American allies beyond Europe such as South Korea and Israel, and is considered the most suitable Western fighter for Ukraine.”

The magazine said the looming depletion of Ukraine’s ground-based "air defenses", the West’s very limited capacity to replenish these, and the growing influence of the Russian air power across the battlefield, have all been factors stimulating Kiev’s supporters to push to upgrade its air power with greater urgency.

If the F-16s be deployed to Ukraine, “there is a possibility that the fighter or its technologies could fall into Russian hands, as other Western equipment has in considerable quantities," the magazine revealed.

"But there is also a much greater chance that the fighters could suffer significant losses both to strikes on their airfields and in the air to air combat which would be a major blow to the F-16’s reputation." 

US allows allies to send F-16 warplanes to Ukraine

Washington has changed its policies on fighter jets after Volodymyr Zelensky’s repeated requests to send F-16 fighters.

A possible and key reason for the disagreement between the Europeans and the US for sending F-16s to Ukraine is that “the US still has a very large stake in the F-16 program,” Military Watch reported.

The magazine added that the fighter jets have been in service and continue to form the backbone of the US Air Force for decades, and moreover, it continues to offer modernized variants of the class for export at times for hundreds of millions of dollars per airframe, so the US is not willing to supply their older aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force.

“The United States has a great deal to lose from seeing its F-16s transferred to Ukraine, at a time when future orders for the class are already in question and the reputation of its air power is critical, particularly in theatres such as East Asia. The priorities of its European allies have often been very different,” the report said.

EU urges significant increase in military aid for Ukraine

The EU urges significant boosting of the fund that is used by the bloc to provide military aid for Ukraine.

Biden on Friday told leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries gathered in Japan that Washington was prepared to help train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets donated to the former Soviet state.

The United States gave the green light to its allies to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets. Countries cannot resell or re-export American weapons and munitions without US consent.

The US shift is a diplomatic victory for Zelensky, who is currently in Hiroshima to push for more military support as he attends the G7 summit.

Russia warns West taking ‘colossal risks’ with potential supply of F-16s to Ukraine

Russia has slammed the West

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Groshko, referring to the possible supply of these fighters to Ukraine, said “Western countries adhere to the trend of increasing tension in the war in Ukraine, and Russia is also following up on its plans.”

The West has supplied Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars worth of various weaponry since the onset of the Russian military campaign in February 2022.

Russia says it launched its 'special military operation' as a security measure against persisting eastern advance of the US-led NATO military alliance and the protection of the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine from abusive treatment by Kiev forces.

The US-led Western countries, who have been providing arms and munitions to Ukraine, aim to continue to extend their all-out military and financial support to Kiev.

Russia has denounced the West's incessant arming of Kiev as counterproductive measures that would only prolong the conflict.

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