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Footage from a video showing preparations and the takeoff of a Ukrainian F-16AM MLU.
Footage from a video showing preparations and the takeoff of a Ukrainian F-16AM MLU.
Footage from a video showing preparations and the takeoff of a Ukrainian F-16AM MLU.
Armament of the Ukrainian F-16 – on the innermost pylon under the wing there is a fuel drop tank, followed by a pylon with the integrated PIDS+ system, and finally
an AIM-9M missile. There is an AIM-120B missile at the wingtip.
This F-16, shown on the ground, is likely non-operational.
Footage from a video showing preparations and the takeoff of a Ukrainian F-16AM MLU.
However, they have a maximum range of 50 km,
significantly less than the newer AIM-120C and
D versions. This gives the Russian fighters
armed with R-37M missiles the advantage of
greater range. Also seen under the wing were
AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles, dating back to the
1980s. These infrared-guided missiles have
a maximum range of 18 km. Air combat at such
a distance does not occur in Ukraine, and the
effectiveness of the AIM-9M against modern
aircraft is questionable. On the other hand, they
are fully sufficient for combat against Iranian
Shahed drones, which Russia uses extensively.
Perhaps even more important is what
Ukraine has not disclosed. Kyiv is well aware
that the Russians meticulously study every
piece of information. Thus, there remains
the possibility that Ukraine has received
newer weaponry for its F-16s that they simply
haven’t revealed. Ukrainian F-16s are capable
of carrying AGM-88 HARM missiles or guided
bombs, which the Ukrainian air force has used
for quite some time. Yet these were not shown in
the footage. The two ex-American F-16s behind
President Zelensky likely caused considerable
confusion among Russian analysts. If the U.S.
provided any F-16s to Ukraine despite claims
UKRAINE
INFO Eduard
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September 2024