Dutch Defence Ministry preps six more F‑16s for Ukraine to reinforce air dominance fight
Ukrainian General Mykola Malomuzh and the spokesman for the Ukrainian air force, Yuri Ihnat, have recently stated that full air superiority against the Russians could be guaranteed with approximately 120 F-16 fighters. Given that Kyiv will receive only several dozen aircraft in total, the additional support from the Netherlands is critical for enhancing air-combat capacities against the encroaching force.
"Ukrainian air superiority is imperative to counteract Russian aggression," Ollongren penned in a post on Platform X, stressing that a total of 24 F-16 fighters from the Netherlands will be dispatched to Ukraine. Incidentally, in relation to the F-16s, internet conjecture has hinted at the possibility that the fighters for Ukraine might be equipped with AGM-158 JASSM missiles.
It's worth reminding readers that these American fighters, many experts maintain, are machines that could significantly alter the course of the conflict in Ukraine. The military extols the F-16's capacity for conducting precision strikes, and frequently refers to the diverse weaponry the fighter can carry.
Among other things, American fighters can deploy AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles along with an array of bombs such as the CBU-87, GBU-10 or JDAM. Additionally, F-16s can launch AGM-158 JASSM missiles, which have recently stirred discussion because of rumors of their potential incorporation into Ukrainian-bound aircraft. This is hard-to-detect ammunition, which entered service in 2009. Each missile measures approximately 4 metres long and carries a near half-tonne warhead, accurate to within a radius of around 3 metres. The AGM-158 has a range of almost 400 kilometres.
It's also worth noting that F-16 fighters are renowned not only for their substantial armament capabilities but also for their mobility. An individual aircraft weighs 19 tonnes and can reach speeds of up to 2100 kilometres per hour. Furthermore, it can operate at altitudes exceeding 14 kilometres and on a single tank of fuel can travel up to 3200 kilometres, or even 4200 kilometres with additional fuel tanks mounted.
