After two and a half years of fighting against the Russian incursion, the Ukrainians have finally received their long-awaited F-16s. This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the first batch of the US-made jets had made it to Ukraine. He did not specify how many fighters had arrived, but it was reported that Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands have together pledged seventy-nine total to Ukraine.
The inclusion of F-16s in Ukraine’s arsenal will be welcomed and will have an immediate military effect. The aircraft will bolster Ukraine’s defenses, especially in the skies. The fighters can be used to defend Ukraine from Russia’s constant missile strikes and fight off Russian drones and aircraft.
Aside from this defensive boost, using these jets will also expand what Ukraine can achieve offensively. Given the aircraft’s specific suite of capabilities, the Ukrainians will be able to strike Russian military targets without needing to use their ground troops to penetrate Russian military areas on land. The jets can also be used to target Russian troop positions and ammunition depots. While the F-16s will not immediately give Ukraine air superiority in the conflict—something neither side has managed to accomplish—it will strengthen Ukraine’s military position in the air domain and provide for some degree of greater control over the skies.
The full military impact will not be felt immediately, however, for several reasons. First, it will take time to incorporate these jets into Ukraine’s air defense systems. Second, while Ukrainian pilots have undergone rigorous training to learn how to operate the F-16s, for now only a few select groups of pilots know how to operate the aircraft. Third, after finally receiving the long-anticipated aircraft, the Ukrainian military will be cautious with how it utilizes them and eager to protect the small fleet of F-16s from Russian strikes. So although the aircraft’s introduction gives Ukraine an advantage, it will not be enough to shift the entire tide of the war. Nonetheless, from the standpoint of military impact, it is a welcomed boost.
Aside from the military capabilities of these aircraft, however, there is another significant benefit of their arrival in Ukraine—related to symbolism, morale, and other less tangible factors. Their importance should not be underestimated; they are the forces that Napoleon referred to when he said that in war, “the moral is to the physical as three to one.”
The arrival of these jets will provide a morale boost to Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. Ukrainians understand the significance of the aircraft and how it can be used to enhance their country’s defense capabilities. Since the start of the war, the Ukrainians have called on the West to provide them with this state-of-the-art aircraft so that it can be used to protect the country. The fact that the jets have finally arrived suggests that the international community will remain standing with Ukraine as it continues to fight for its independence and survival against Russia. It is a symbol of unity and strength between NATO and Ukraine.
Furthermore, the F-16 is seen as an “iconic fighter” around the globe. The aircraft has been the “front-line combat plane of choice for the NATO alliance... for 50 years.” In addition, the jets have become synonymous with strength. Numerous countries around the world have long sought to acquire these aircraft, not just to operate them but to be able to claim them in their inventory.
In addition, incorporating these jets into Ukraine’s air force shows that Ukraine’s military is modernizing and changing. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian military consisted of old Soviet vehicles and equipment. When the first Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2014, the Ukrainians started to work closely with Western partners. Ukraine participated in a series of training exercises and demonstrations with NATO members, and its international supporters worked to help it reform its military. This helped it meet Western defense standards.
Ukraine’s military doctrine transformed over time, and Ukrainian soldiers learned how to operate Western weapons and equipment. This led to growing Ukrainian interoperability with the West.
Over the past two and a half years, Ukraine’s military and volunteer battalions have received thousands of Western weapons and vehicles. Ukraine’s ability to halt the Russian offensive and force the Russians out of various parts of the country suggests that the Ukrainians can operate Western machinery. Now, with the acquisition of F-16s, this development has further united Ukraine with NATO as the Ukrainian military continues to modernize and transform its arsenal and defense capabilities. In other words, the acquisition of Western weapons, vehicles, and technology, and Ukraine’s successful ability to operate this equipment with ease, suggest that Ukraine is far more integrated with the West than critics may think.
In short, the arrival of F-16s to Ukraine will be an important development in its ongoing war against Russian aggression. The Ukrainians will be able to use the aircraft to defend civilian and military installations across the country. The jets will be used to shoot down Russian missiles, destroy Russian drones, and potentially even fight off Russian airplanes. Eventually, they will also be incorporated into Ukraine’s military for offensive purposes.
But the symbolism behind their arrival is also significant. Receiving these fighters suggests that the West is truly committed to helping Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Providing the Ukrainians with these advanced and expensive jets suggests that the West trusts that the Ukrainians are ready to operate and utilize this machinery, and that the commitment to Ukraine’s defense and its growing interoperability with NATO remains strong. This has become a significant moment in the NATO-Ukrainian relationship.
Mark Temnycky is an accredited freelance journalist covering Eurasian affairs and anonresident fellowat the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.He can be found on X@MTemnycky.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense.
Image credit: Master Sgt. Andrew J. Moseley, US Air National Guard
