The United States has given the green light to European allies to supply advanced fighter jets to Ukraine, including domestically-made F-16s, in a move to bolster support for Kiev.
F-16 fighter jet. (Photo: Airforce Times)
US media quoted US government officials as saying that President Biden also approved allied countries to train Ukrainian pilots before the transfer was made. At the G7 Summit in Japan, some US officials said that Washington would support “a joint effort by allies and partners to train Ukrainian pilots to use fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including the F-16.”
The transfer of Western main battle tanks to Ukraine has followed a similar trajectory. The US and some European allies such as Germany and the UK initially refused but later expressed their willingness. Washington announced that it would deliver Abrams tanks. Berlin and London agreed to provide Leopard 2 and Challenger 2 tanks to Kiev.
Clash of the Century
Analysts say the West’s decision to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine would mark a major turning point in military history. However, the transfer could take months due to the complexity of maintaining and operating the aircraft.
If the F-16 fighter jets appear on the battlefield in Ukraine, it is likely that there will be a direct confrontation between the iconic Western fighter jets and their Russian-made counterparts such as the Su-30, Su-35 or MiG-31 fighters. This air battle will be closely watched by strategists, military commanders, pilots and scientists because it could determine the direction of the defense aviation sector for decades to come. The outcome of the clash between the F-16 and Su-30/35 will also affect many important hotspots in the world such as India - Pakistan or Iran and Israel (Iran has completed a deal to buy Su-35 fighters from Russia while Israel has bought F-16s from the US).
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) are said to be the leading operators of the F-16 and Su-30. India currently operates the MiG-21, MiG-29, and has the Su-30MKI as its main fighters. It also operates other aircraft such as the MiG-27, MiG-23, and MiG-25.
During the February 27, 2019 air battle in the Kashmir region, several Pakistani F-16 fighters were said to have turned back when they detected the Indian Su-30. This showed the superiority of the Su-30. But also in this battle, a Pakistani F-16 fighter launched an air-to-air missile and shot down an Indian Air Force MiG-21.
In the Middle East, Russia is currently delivering Su-35 fighter jets to the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) after the two sides signed a purchase agreement in March. Iran's main regional rival, Israel, has used various versions of the F-16 fighter jet since the 1980s. The most advanced version currently operated by Israel is the F-16I. Experts fear that if tensions between the two countries escalate, this could lead to a clash, with both sides deploying Su-35 and F-16 fighters in combat.
An Indian military expert said that up to now, there have been some confrontations between F-16 fighters and Sukhoi aircraft, but not a full-scale confrontation. If Ukraine officially accepts the F-16, Russia's advanced fighters such as the Su-35 and Su-30SM2 will have more opportunities to hunt down US-made aircraft than ever before.
Comparing the power of F-16 and Su-35
The F-16 and Su-35 are both modern fighters, but differ significantly in design, capabilities, and performance. The F-16 (also known as the Fighting Falcon) is a lightweight multirole fighter, available in single- or two-seat versions, manufactured by the American corporation General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin). The aircraft was introduced into the US Air Force in 1978 and later exported to many other countries. Since 1979, this 4th generation fighter has been upgraded and improved quite a bit, giving it some features of a 5th generation fighter, including a modern radar.
Russian Su-35 fighter jet. (Photo: Sputnik)
The F-16 is highly regarded for its maneuverability, speed and range, and its ability to carry a variety of weapons, such as missiles or bombs. Although the F-16 has only one engine, it can reach a maximum speed of Mach 2 (about 2,100 km/h). The aircraft has a crew of one, is 14.8m long, 4.8m high, has a wingspan of 9.8m, a takeoff weight of 16,875 tons, a range of over 3,200km, and a ceiling of 15,240m. It is equipped with a 20mm M-61A1 multi-barrel cannon and can carry 6 air-to-air missiles.
Meanwhile, the Su-35 is a heavy twin-engine multirole fighter aircraft. The RAND Corporation, a think tank, describes it as “a typical Russian heavy fighter bomber.” The Su-35 Flanker-E is equipped with a variety of modern sensors and avionics that enhance its combat capabilities and allow it to operate in a variety of conditions.
The aircraft uses the Irbis-E Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) radar, which can detect and track airborne and ground objects at very long ranges, and is capable of mapping and providing high-resolution imagery. It can also detect and track low-altitude targets, without interference or jamming.
The Su-35 is equipped with a 30mm GSh301 cannon for close combat and a variety of rockets and missiles to attack short and long range targets.
According to military experts, the Su-35 offers many performance advantages over the F-16 fighter. It has a faster speed, reaching a maximum of Mach 2.25, a longer range (over 3,600 km) and a more powerful radar system. Due to the use of superior thrust vectoring technology, it can perform extremely precise turns. This fighter Su-35 is said to be more flexible than the F-16.
However, the F-16 also has its own distinct advantages. It is lighter than the Su-35, making it suitable for air combat. The F-16 is also more fuel efficient and easier to maintain than the Su-35.
According to military experts, the outcome of a duel between an F-16 and a Su-35 depends not only on the capabilities of each aircraft, but also on the pilot’s training, the weapons system, the environment and terrain where the battle takes place. In short, modern air battles are quite complex and often incorporate many factors other than the aircraft’s performance.
Hong Anh (VOV.VN/Eurasia Times)
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