The pilot, nicknamed Juice, said that Ukraine’s “old” fleet of aircraft was regularly overwhelmed by Russian Su-35 and MiG-31 fighters on the battlefield.
“Our air force situation is getting worse and worse,” said the Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot, nicknamed Juice, on February 2, while admitting that Ukraine’s aging squadron was completely defeated by Sukhoi fighters. Russia’s -35 and MiG-31 are equipped with long-range air-to-air missiles and superior radar.
Juice said the 40-year-old radar on the Soviet-made MiG-29 was not designed to detect cruise missiles or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), so Ukrainian pilots could not shoot them down. .
“It’s sad to go back and land on base after such a hunt to know that they’ve reached their target, destroyed buildings and even caused casualties, while I couldn’t be of much help.” , says Juice.
Ukraine’s MiG-29 fighter jet flies over Vasylkiv airbase in August 2016. Photo: Reuters.
After the West committed to transfer main tanks, the Ukrainian leadership urged partners to transfer fighters, including the US-made F-16 model. “What Ukraine needs is a fourth-generation fighter,” said adviser to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Yuriy Sak.
However, the leading members of NATO have so far refused to provide the fighters on the grounds that they are too complex for Ukrainian forces to quickly master and maintain their weapons, as well as fear that this decision could cause problems. Russia escalated the conflict.
The UK, one of Ukraine’s biggest military donors, does not want to hand over operating F-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon fighters. When asked if the US was prepared to provide F-16 aid, President Joe Biden bluntly said “no”.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned countries “not to join the bidding race” to transfer Western-made weapons to Ukraine.
Some Western officials question whether the fighter is a top priority in military aid to Ukraine, as it takes a minimum of six months to train pilots to fly planes and operate systems. weapon.
Ukraine’s Su-27 fighter at Starokonstiantyniv airbase in October 2018. Photo: Reuters.
Expert Justin Bronk at the Royal Research Institute for Defense and Security (RUSI) warned that although Western fighters could bring greater capabilities to Ukraine, “Russia’s fearsome air defense net” will force them to be. flying low in ground cover and limiting the effectiveness of these aircraft.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine control the skies, so the air force’s role is less prominent in a conflict that has been shaped primarily by artillery. Ukraine’s Soviet-era S-300 air defense systems and Western-aided missile systems have prevented Russian fighters from entering the country’s airspace.
Nguyen Tien (Theo FT)