What happens when a US F-16 encounters a Russian air defense system?

The US supply of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine and the upcoming clash with Russian air defense systems have opened a new heated discussion in the arms market.

Mỹ không muốn lập vùng cấm bay ở Ukraine vì sự vượt trội của không quân Nga?

US F-16 aircraft. (Source: Defense)

The US Department of Defense recently said that the country does not oppose other countries providing F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. Last week, US President Joe Biden also announced that the US will support efforts by allies to provide advanced fighters such as F-16s and pilot training to Ukraine.

Ukraine's F-16 needs

Providing fighter jets to Ukraine is part of NATO’s strategy to gradually increase its involvement in the military conflict in Ukraine. This is considered the next step after the UK transferred Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles to Kiev.

Recently, the UK and the Netherlands agreed to form an international coalition to help Ukraine receive F-16 fighters and provide related support. Through this coalition, Kiev has been promised all support.

However, some countries such as Poland, which are tasked with training pilots for Ukraine, do not want to provide aircraft to Kiev, while Ukraine's need for F-16 fighters is increasing.

“We need about 40-60 F-16s to create four squadrons to protect Ukrainian skies. Currently, we have nothing to stop Russian planes. President Volodymyr Zelensky wants the F-16 to be the main topic at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July,” said Yury Sak, adviser to the Ukrainian Defense Minister.

In the face of Europe's silence on the issue of US F-16 fighter jets, Ukraine has also expressed interest in Sweden's JAS-39 Gripen light fighter jets and hopes that this issue will also be resolved.

It is not without reason that Ukraine specifically names the F-16 fighter. This is a multi-purpose fighter, 4th generation, not too expensive. Since 1978, the US has manufactured 4,600 F-16s with different versions. Currently, 25 countries own this type of aircraft. In particular, the F-16 fighter can use all types of tactical lethal weapons of NATO countries.

In terms of current weapons, the US has 550 F-16s, Türkiye has 250, Israel has 230, Egypt has 209, South Korea has 150 and Taiwan (China) has 140. Europe alone has very few of these aircraft and focuses on its own weapons. Therefore, it can be said that Kiev places all its hopes on Washington.

Russia confident with current air defense system

Responding to Sputnik, expert Alexander Mikhailov, head of the Russian Bureau of Political-Military Analysis, said that the F-16 is a modern aircraft that is still being upgraded.

"If the F-16 flies into Ukrainian airspace, it will suffer the same fate as the Soviet-made Su and MIG aircraft that Kiev received because they can be shot down very easily. According to statistics from the Russian Ministry of Defense, every day at least one or two Ukrainian aircraft are shot down by Russia," said expert Alexander Mikhailov.

Russia is believed to have disabled the Patriot air defense system that the US transferred to Ukraine. Perhaps this has prompted the West to decide to supply F-16s to Ukraine. However, the US F-16 fighter jet has not yet had the opportunity to "contact" with modern air defense systems. Therefore, if it is shot down, the US is concerned that the technical secrets of the F-16 will fall into the hands of the enemy.

At the same time, expert Aleksander Mikhailov also affirmed that in the special military campaign in Ukraine, Russia's S-300 and S-400 air defense systems have demonstrated effective combat capabilities. In addition, there are also medium-range air defense systems Buk-M2 and Buk-M3.

Of particular note is the S-300B4 air defense system. This system set a world record when it caught up with a Ukrainian fighter jet at a distance of 200km.

Therefore, detecting the F-16 for the Russian radar system seems to be too simple.

According to expert Mikhailov, the world arms market has another opportunity to discuss and witness the F-16 fighter facing the Russian air defense system.

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