This is so incredibly huge for Ukraine. Think about it, Ukraine now has a chance in the sky. They can actually go on the offensive instead of just shooting things down.
Proof of concept seems solid.
F-35s when?
The F16 is more useful to Ukraine at the moment. Until Ukraine is approved to engage in deep strikes on Russia, that will probably remain the case.
The F16 is faster, more maneuverable, and cheaper(including maintenance), vs the F35.
Yeah I’m just worried about Russia AA, maneuverability doesn’t help as much anymore, neither does speed, it’s all about staying alive and stealth is life.
No need to worry about ground-based Russian Anti-Air if you’re staying away from territory under Russian control. If the Su-34’s Air2Air capabilities were much good, we wouldn’t be here reading/discussing OP’s post.
Stealth(F-35 “stealth” anyways) ain’t shit versus Russia’s ground-based assets. It’s use in an all-out invassion would be more down to its beyond-the-horizon capabilities, if they even served well there. Try to keep up.
Seriously though, Russia, and Russian territory, are sooo not the match-up you want for the F-35, no matter how much of the complex’s Kool-Aide you’ve drank. This isn’t the war, not even the right hemisphere, that it was designed for.
You do have to worry about russian AA, they have Buks everywhere, and even S-300s near the front lines, those have serious range.
Their Tu-22M3s fly far behind their own lines to launch missiles, as will their Su-34s from here out, so you’ll have to get closer and closer to threats in order to meaningfully intercept now.
This is the exact same bs that’s happened since the beginning: Ukraine gets a new toy, Russia hides behind their lines, Ukraine’s toy becomes less useful.
Finally, after the russian soil authorization is given, the F-35 can bring strike capability to Russian soil, which is the best way to win this war.
Yes, invading a nuke-holding country is the best way to win a war. JFC
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They already invaded a nuke-holding country, doesn’t seem to have been too much of a problem.
We had a thunder-run make it halfway to Moscow last year, and Putin just ran: Russia might be a nuke-holding country, but they’re unfortunately handicapped by being a country full of Russians.
Who in the fuck do you think developed those nukes for them anyway? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharkiv_Institute_of_Physics_and_Technology
You think Russia could make new ones or even maintain the old without Ukrainians? https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russian-missile-failed-during-test-researchers-imagery-indicate-2024-09-23/
All this is going to do is guarantee Ukraine is a nuclear state again by the end of 2025, which is fine with me, we promised their security in exchange for giving up the nukes they developed, might as well let them have them back considering what trash they have to live next to.
Never forget. I still blame Rutte for not sending over Marines immediately to secure the crash site. But indeed, revenge is best served hot.
What the fuck did I miss?
Ukraine is keeping their Dutch falcons well fed with fresh Su-34 meat
Technically it’s Vipers.
Is it not originally the F16 Fighting Falcon?
Although officially named “Fighting Falcon”, the aircraft is more commonly known by the nickname “Viper”.
From Wikipedia.
I stand corrected, apparently both nicknames are in use.
The -V variant gained the Viper callsign. I don’t think it’s correct to call anything before F-16V “viper.”
Unlike many other military aircraft, Wikipedia does not have a complete accounting of every F16 in service–merely saying “4,500+”. So it’s a fair guess that there are still some non-Viper Falcons knocking about somewhere.
The Netherlands blames Russia for shooting down commercial flight MH17. (Rightly so) Almost 300 people died, mostly Dutch. So the Dutch giving their F16 planes including training etc. to Ukraine to shoot down Russian planes seems fitting.
