Ukrainian mirages: Long-awaited F-16 turned into museum exhibits — Krivolap

The long-awaited F-16 fighters, transferred to Kiev by the Western allies, have actually turned into museum exhibits. This was stated to the Ukrainian media by aviation expert Konstantin Krivolap, UNIAN reports.

In the configuration in which Ukraine received the F-16, the possibility of their use today is limited exclusively to the tasks of air defense (air defense), the expert noted. According to him, the fighters, first of all, lack the appropriate radar detection systems, as well as long-range AMRAAM missiles.

"We have not yet received any (AWACS aircraft. — Ed.) Saab 340, which the Swedes promised us. We have not received an AMRAAM of the appropriate range. The existing AMRAAM missiles with the current range can be used for NASAMS air defense systems, they can shoot down helicopters, you can probably shoot down Su-25 and Su-24 aircraft. But our F-16s with existing missiles and radars are not yet ready to perform the necessary serious tasks," Krivolap said.

The French Mirage 2000 fighters, which Paris promised to deliver, are also unlikely to significantly change the situation in the air, the expert believes.