Ukrainian President Zelensky had a clear message during his visit to the Netherlands on Thursday: his country wants F-16s for the fight against Russia. But even with those planes, achieving air superiority is a complex operation, according to HCSS analyst Patrick Bolder. “There must therefore be new infrastructure in Ukraine.”
The F-16 engagement in Ukraine is a rather difficult story, explains Bolder: ‘The Netherlands, for example, cannot decide for itself whether the plane will go in that direction. This has to do with the arms export legislation that the Americans have yet to give permission for.”
“A special tactic is needed to suppress Russian air defenses. For this we also need radar planes and tanker planes”.
And if a deal is given to give the fighter jets to Ukraine, an airbase with new infrastructure in Ukraine must also be provided, says Bolder, “where those F-16s will then operate from.” According to him, flying itself is not that complicated, and maintenance of combat aircraft for Ukraine is also not so bad.
Radar and tanker aircraft
Bolder also says that even with F-16s it’s a pretty tough task to achieve air superiority. “A special tactic is needed to suppress Russian air defenses. This also requires radar aircraft and airbags. And since these are long operations deep in enemy territory, tankers are actually needed as well.’
The analyst also returned to potential NATO membership, another topic Zelenksi discussed in the Netherlands. According to Bolder, a number of rules need to be formally changed if Ukraine is to gain NATO membership. “You can only become a member now if there are no foreign troops stationed on your territory. As a country, you are not allowed to go to war,’ explains Patrick Bolder. He also thinks Ukraine should receive security guarantees when the war is over.
Source: BNR
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