The Defensive Role of the F-16

Less “Top Gun”, More Defensive Line

A cohort of Ukrainian pilots are expected to complete F-16 training by the end of this summer. Ever since the initial announcement that F-16 fighters would be delivered to Ukraine by the United States and its European allies, some analysts have examined how the fighter would fare against comparable Russian aircraft like the Su-35.

Yes, it is certainly possible that Ukrainian pilots may use the F-16 to intercept Russian peers over Eastern Ukraine. This would represent the first credible challenge to Russian fighter pilots in a conflict zone since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

However, what is much more likely (and ultimately much more useful) is that the F-16s will be incorporated into Ukraine’s wider air defense network.