Ukraine sets sights on fighter jets after securing tank supplies

Ukraine is now pushing for Western fourth-generation fighter jets like the US F-16, after securing main battle tanks, an advisor to Ukraine's defense minister said on Wednesday (25 January).

The German announced that it will provide heavy tanks to Kyiv, ending weeks of diplomatic deadlock. This is a major boost for Ukraine's troops. Similar announcements are expected from the United States.

"The next hurdle will be the fighter jets," Yuriy Sa, who advises Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said.

The Ukraine's Air Force owns a fleet of Soviet-era fighter planes from the past that were built before Kyiv declared independence over 31 years ago. These warplanes can be used to intercept Russian positions and attack them.

"If we get them (Western Fighter Jets), the benefits on the battlefield are just immense... This is not only about F-16s (U.S. multirole Fighter Jets), but also fourth-generation aircraft.

The vital support of the West has been crucial for Kyiv, and has evolved rapidly during the conflict. Even the notion of providing lethal aid to Ukraine before the invasion was controversial. However, Western supplies have since broken every taboo.

"They did not want to give us heavy artillery. Then they did. They initially refused to give us Himars systems but they eventually did. They weren't going to give us tanks; now they are giving us tanks. Sak stated that, except for nuclear weapons and other items, there is nothing we won't get."

Ukraine was also invaded by Russia in February last year.

Moscow was furious after Germany approved delivery to Ukraine of Leopard 2 tank, the most powerful of all armies in Europe. This decision is sure to strengthen Ukraine's offensive power.

Justin Bronk, a researcher from the RUSI think-tank in London, stated that Ukraine's Air Force would greatly benefit from Western fighters in terms both of air-to air and possibly air-to ground lethality.

He stated on Twitter that they were still at high risk from Russian surface-to-air missiles. This would force them to fly low near the front lines, which "would dramatically reduce missile range and limit strike possibilities".

Despite the fact that there has been no significant movement in the matter, the Ukrainian Air Force has long yearned for better aircraft all through the war.

Last month, a codenamed Juice from Ukraine said that many of his Air Force peers were learning English in their spare time in anticipation of Kyiv receiving foreign aircraft like the F-16 fighter.

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