According to Hammelburg, a fighter jet is “a very heavy weapon”. In addition, pilots must receive very precise instructions to stay within certain limits. “You can go through all of Ukraine in a short time and bomb Russia.”
In addition to long and intense pilot training, these aircraft also require a lot of maintenance. “They need to be checked and renewed after each flight.” The question is also whether the F-16 is suitable for this war. The aircraft proposed by the British, the Typhoon, would not be suitable because it cannot fly at low altitudes.
Authorization
The F-16s also face the same practical problem that previously occurred with the delivery of Leopard tanks. If the Allies want to make their F-16s available, they need US permission. The loan or delivery of a tank or fighter aircraft is permitted only after an agreement of the country in which it was made. The same goes for the Leopard tanks, which are German made. “It’s a maze, I understand countries are hesitant about that,” Hammelburg says.
Former army commander Mart de Kruif also does not think the delivery of fighter jets will happen in the short term. More important is how to stop the Russian offensive. “Now you have to look at the ability, leadership and morale of the Ukrainian military.”
Total war
The goal now should be to stop the big Russian offensive. According to De Kruif, the question is also what effect the F-16s should have. Ukraine now has little combat power in the air, but has effective anti-aircraft guns. “After a year it has still not been eliminated by the Russians,” says De Kruif. According to the former commander, “hundreds of planes are needed” to have absolute superiority in the air, active 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The countries that briefly considered supplying aircraft now appear to have all withdrawn. The United States, the Netherlands and Poland prefer to wait a little longer. “I have the impression that everyone has retired now,” says Hammelburg.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said today that the supply of fighter jets to Ukraine “is not a point of attention at the moment, but it will certainly be discussed”. Securing Ukraine’s airspace is the priority, he told German TV channel ARD.
Ammunition
According to De Kruif, Zelensky is primarily concerned with what he needs next year. “Putin has gone to total war, he is putting everything on the table. You have to answer this and this has to be done with heavy weapons on the ground.’
The coming months, says De Kruif, will be characterized by very intense fighting with many losses on both sides. “The first signs of this are already visible.” That is why Ukraine must look ahead, to see what is still needed. ‘We won’t see the intensity now next year. Then there are no more tanks, then there are no more ammunition and then there are no more supplies.”
According to Hammelburg, these stocks are already a problem. There is a severe shortage of ammunition. Both Ukraine and the countries supplying ammunition are running out of stocks very quickly.’