Some reporting on Ukraine's F-16's by Theti Mapping including how they are fitted out:
Hi everyone, so I forgot to discuss the F-16s so I'll give my thoughts here:In Zelensky's remarks we can see 2 F-16s in the background in addition to 2 that flew in the skies. Ukrainian media's reporting that 10 jets were delivered and that another 10 will arrive by the end of 2024. This would mean the 65 other pledged jets are slated to arrive in 2025 and beyond. So by the end of 2024 Ukraine is expected to nearly have a full squadron of F-16s. These initial jets are the Danish AM/BM models and were filmed armed with AIM-9 short-range Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, in addition to the AIM-120s with which we are familiar. Raytheon has a contract for about 140 AMRAAMS, especially AIM-120Ds that have a maximum range between 160-180km. It will be important to keep track of how many munition arrive in Ukraine, and how they are split up between F-16s and NASAMs. On their pylons the F-16s have enhanced protection systems: PIDS & ECIPS, created by Israeli and Danish companies. PIDS uses physical means to spoof radar/infrared guided anti-air missiles. ECIPS has a missile warning system and jammers that work on on-ground radars. So these new defense capabilities are an upgrade on Ukraine's older MiG-29s, Su-27s, 7 Su-24s. F-16s pilots will also JHMCS helmet mounted sights, allowing targeting based on gaze. This is intergrated into the jet's weapons system and eliminates the redudancy of having to re-orient the plane to align with a target to lock-in on it. 6 Ukrainian pilots are reportedly conducting flight tests in western Ukraine according to NYT. They haven't engaged in actual combat yet. There are 20 pilots reportedly slated to complete training by the end of 2024. This confuses me because it implies Ukraine will have some excess jets that can't be used to by trained professionals by the end of the year, so maybe there's a reporting error. I'm interest to see whether Ukraine is cautious and uses the jets within their airspace to enhance air defense, and perhaps act as a deterrent against Russian aircraft nearing the LOC; or whether they will take more risks and send some jets for frontline missions both against ground targets and Russian jets dropping FABS. I'll also be looking out for Russian attempts to shoot down these jets via ground launched missiles or an air-to-air engagement.
