War in Ukraine will be the most difficult test for the F-16 for the history of existence-the media

Fighters have been used in various missions for over 50 years and have demonstrated their effectiveness around the world, as journalists write. At the same time, US pilots are convinced that the Ukrainian battlefield will be the main test. Western F-16 fighters, which will arrive in Ukraine in the summer, will face the most dangerous field of battle in the history of their existence. This is stated in Business Insider.

The authors of the material are convinced that this type of combat aviation will significantly improve Kiev's capabilities for offensive and defense operations. In addition, ammunition to fighters will increase the fire power of Ukrainian defenders. The F-16 has been used for many years in military operations in the Middle East or Balkans. Accordingly, a whole collection of effective missions in the aircraft shoulders.

At the same time, the sky over Ukraine can be the most difficult test for fighters, as former US military pilots say in a comment to reporters. Aircraft will have to go against the advanced Russian air defense systems and long -range missiles. Some NATO countries have already promised to send their F-16 to Ukraine, including Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands. Pilots have been trained in the US and Europe for a long time, and closer to the summer should return with the equipment.

The fighters of the event will significantly update the Ukrainian Fleet of aircraft, as they have more efficient characteristics and better possibilities of radio electronic wrestling. The first prototype of Western fighters appeared 50 years ago, but a significant success occurred in the 1980s, when the aircraft fell into the hands of Israeli pilots.

Then it was possible to suppress the enemy air defense in Lebanon and in a few hours to destroy a large number of Soviet landscape systems "Earth-Air" that belonged to Syria, as well as hostile aviation. In this case, the F-16 did not suffer any loss. The American pilots used these fighters for the first time during the Storm Operation in the Desert in Iraq. It was the early 1990s. The fighter was used to attack aerodromes, rocket facilities and other military production facilities of the enemy.

In the same decade, the F-16 launched in the Balkans for NATO Air Campaign against Yugoslavia. Despite the effectiveness of the operations listed above, the most difficult test for the F-16 can only be ahead. Retirement Lieutenant Colonel John Baum managed this type of fighter for over 2300 hours. He is convinced that for the F-16 war in Ukraine will be the most difficult scenario during its existence. Russian invaders will try to do everything to intercept planes and harm Ukraine.

"There are many ways to identify these F-16. The Russians use high quality war equipment in Ukraine," said the American defense analyst and former Brinn Tanknechill pilot. In addition, as John Baum says, when the F-16 fly, they can be within the reach of Russian-air-air systems. Accordingly, the enemy may try to go to the Armed Forces pilots before they begin tasks. To do this, Kiev can work in recent months to reduce the enemy's combat capabilities.