US F-16 fighter jet radar technology makes Ukraine covetous

General Serhii Holubtsov, of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said in an interview that the use of F-16 fighters will increase the effectiveness of HARM missiles against enemy interception systems.

According to this Ukrainian military official, the recent transfer of advanced weapons has somewhat improved Kiev's combat effectiveness. Among them, HARM anti-radar missiles pose a challenge to air defense platforms. However, this potential will be "unlocked" further when combined with F-16 fighter jets.

Active air defense radar detection

The strength of the F-16 lies in its specialized receivers, which are capable of providing pilots with vital information about enemy active air defense systems, including their direction and exact location.

By using advanced radar receivers or specialized equipment under the fuselage specifically designed to support HARM, F-16 pilots are able to pinpoint the location of Russian air defense batteries just before launching missiles.

The US F-16 multi-role fighter is equipped with active radar technology to detect enemy air defense systems.

This advanced capability allows the F-16 to conduct missile launches against high-priority targets, significantly improving its overall performance and effectiveness on the battlefield. Not only that, this “iron bird” can be integrated with other advanced weapons, such as “smart bombs”.

Holubtsov explained that conventional high-precision weapons must be pre-programmed on the ground before deployment. However, with the F-16, this ground programming step can be completely omitted because the “iron bird” is capable of detecting targets in flight and firing guided munitions immediately.

This helps the Ukrainian armed forces to adapt in real time to combat situations, instead of the traditional approach of programming based on pre-existing assumptions.

Military experts generally agree that putting the F-16 into service in Ukraine will bring significant advantages to the counterattack plan that Kiev has set out this year.

Balance the battlefield power

“F-16 fighters have the ability to actively detect enemy radar, facilitating real-time target identification and allowing effective deployment of high-speed AGM-88 anti-radiation missiles,” said a former US Navy pilot.

Previously, deploying HARM on the MiG-29 required pre-programming of target coordinates before launch, a process that limited the missile’s ability to fully utilize the Russian radar signature.

F-16 combined with high-speed anti-radiation missiles could create a "turning point" on the battlefield in Ukraine

In contrast, the F-16's advanced computer and display systems are designed to facilitate a continuous data link with the missile, so the ability to select modes and target in real time during flight would greatly enhance the effectiveness of HARM.

Defense experts emphasize that the combination of F-16s provides a tactical advantage to suppress Russian surface-to-air missile batteries over a significant stretch of the front line, facilitating the rapid and safe transport of troops and supplies by helicopter, while attack jets can provide air support for frontline battalions.

Although Washington has given the green light for the transfer of F-16s to the Ukrainian battlefield, so far no Western country has been willing to provide this "goods" to Kiev.

Leaked Pentagon intelligence documents show that Ukrainian pilots must undergo three to four months of training to be able to fly US fighter jets. Meanwhile, the Netherlands has said it can only provide a “limited” number of F-16s that are in service or have been retired.

Vijainder K Thakur, a former IAF pilot, predicts that the F-16 fighters supplied to Ukraine are expected to be the MLU (mid-life upgrade) variant, which is being gradually replaced in the service of NATO allies such as Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands.

However, these F-16 MLUs are still considered upgraded variants compared to the standard version.

(According to EurAsian Times)

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