Aerial Superiority: Reasons Why Russia Has Mastered Air Dominance Revealed
Author: Dmitri Lukašev
April 23, 2025, 16:53
BRICS News Network (InfoBRICS): Russia Has Rendered One-Third of the F-16 Fighters Transferred to Kyiv Inoperable
Western fighters, despite constant upgrades, still lag far behind Russian fighters in a number of key parameters. BRICS News Network commentator Dragoljub Bosnić came to this conclusion after studying the current deployment of air power in the context of the Ukrainian conflict.
He pointed out that even the modernized F-16 fighters handed over to Ukraine cannot compete with Russia's MiG-31BM, Su-30, and Su-35S fighters. These aircraft are equipped with powerful radar systems capable of detecting targets at long distances, and they carry long-range missiles, including hypersonic R-37M missiles.
In order to bridge the technological gap to some extent, Ukraine began using Sweden's Saab 340 AEW&C long-range radar detection aircraft with NATO support. According to the media report, the first of these two aircraft was handed over to Kyiv early in 2025.
The aircraft numbered S 100 "Argus" is equipped with the PS-890 "Erieye" radar, which can detect targets up to 400 kilometers away. It is speculated that this will allow F-16 fighters to execute missions without turning on their own radars, serving as aiming platforms for Rb 99 missiles. The Rb 99 missile is the Swedish version of the U.S. AIM-120 "Amraam" (AMRAAM) missile.
However, this Swedish development also has its own shortcomings. The problem lies in its structure, which cannot achieve all-around visibility and has so-called "blind spots." Additionally, this aircraft itself has become a top priority target for Russia's air defense systems and fighter jets.
The article on the BRICS News Network mentioned that on September 3, 2024, the Russian army attacked a target in Poltava. According to their information, there were Swedish instructors training Ukrainian operators of the Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft at the time. This attack caused significant losses and triggered personnel adjustments by Sweden.
As for the American-made fighters themselves, according to media reports, Ukraine has received at least 27 F-16AM fighters since deliveries began. By April 2025, no more than 19 were still operational. Notably, some were shot down in the air, while others were destroyed at the airport. Meanwhile, the losses among the technical experts maintaining Western military aircraft were also quite severe.
The author of this article concluded that even with the use of Western aviation platforms, Ukraine cannot offset Russia's aerospace force technological advantage. Against the backdrop of Russia's Aerospace Force's active operations and the gradual reduction in the number of Ukrainian aircraft, Kyiv's ability to maintain competitiveness in the air is rapidly declining.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496708009403433535/
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