Summary: Ukraine's war effort is set to receive a boost with the imminent addition of F-16 Fighting Falcons to its fleet. President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for 120 to 130 F-16s to achieve parity with Russia, but only around 85 have been pledged so far by countries like the Netherlands, Norway, and Denmark.

Ukraine Wants as Many as 130 F-16 Fighters: Key Points You Need to Know 

-Despite not all being operational, these jets will significantly enhance Ukraine's air capabilities.

-Both sides in the conflict have yet to achieve air superiority, highlighting the critical role of air power.

-The new jets will help Ukraine be more aggressive but achieving air superiority will require a sustained, well-equipped air campaign.

The war in Ukraine continues to rage after almost two and a half years of intense fighting. Both sides are looking for an operational advantage to turn the tides of the war in their favor. 

Air power is an important aspect of the fighting, and the Ukrainian military is looking to become more aggressive on that front when it adds F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets to its fleet over the coming weeks. 

But to win the war, Ukrainian leadership is asking for more fighter jets.

Can Ukraine Get That Many F-16 Fighters 

In an interview with AFP, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that in order to achieve parity with the Russian Aerospace Forces, his country needs many more F-16s. 

Specifically, the Ukrainian leader gave a number of 120 to 130 F-16 Fighting Falcons. Currently, a group of countries has pledged approximately 85 F-16s to Ukraine. The Netherlands has committed up to 42 aircraft, Norway 22, and Denmark 19. Other countries are in discussions with Kyiv and the United States for additional transfers, while still other nations provide training to Ukrainian pilots and support personnel. 

However, not all the fighter jets Ukraine will get are operational. The donating countries took the aircraft out of reserves or even junk yards. Several aren’t flightworthy, but they can still prove useful by providing spare parts to maintain operational aircraft. 

Another issue is that Ukraine is not receiving the most modern versions of the F-16, and its fighters might prove inferior to the latest Russian aircraft. Nonetheless, any F-16 would improve the quality of the Ukrainian fleet. 

Air Superiority Over Ukraine 

The air war in Ukraine has shown the importance of air power in modern conflict. Neither side has achieved air superiority over the battlefield, and it is no coincidence that neither has been able to find the much-needed operational breakthrough that would win the war. 

Ukraine has failed to establish air superiority because the Ukrainian Air Force lacks the numbers and quality to do so. The Russian Aerospace Forces do have the numbers, but they still lack the quality. Moreover, the addition of dozens of Western air defense systems to the arsenal of the Ukrainian military, including Patriot, NASAMS, and IRIS-T air defense batteries, have made Ukrainian skies particularly dangerous for Russian aircraft. 

As a result, both combatants have had to resort to stand-off attacks with long-range munitions. There have been some instances of temporary air superiority over small parts of the battlefield – for example, during the start of the Ukrainian counteroffensive last summer, the Russians used attack helicopters to stop Ukrainian forces – but nothing substantial enough to have an operational or strategic result.

The addition of F-16 fighter jets to the Ukrainian air fleet will certainly help Kyiv become more aggressive in the air war. But to achieve air superiority, the Ukrainian Air Force would need a large number of aircraft and the necessary munitions to sustain a prolonged air campaign. 

About the Author 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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