Allies introduced new rules for the use of weapons supplied to Ukraine. This could greatly affect the use of the long-awaited F-16.
As he writes Business Insider citing experts, the first American-made fighters should arrive this summer. This is because Ukraine now has permission to use weapons provided by its allies to strike targets on Russian territory.
George Barros, a military expert at the US Institute for the Study of War, said it would make the F-16s more effective. About a month ago, speaking about the F-16, an expert said that Ukraine needs capabilities, but Russia has a stronger air force and a large air defense network.
Until May, the allies did not allow Ukraine to use the weapons provided by them to attack Russian territory. This was a serious disadvantage, since Russia could gather troops and equipment just on the border and launch attacks from places that Ukraine could not hit. Many analysts said that this meant that Ukraine was fighting with one hand behind its back. But in May, many of her allies eased restrictions.
Barros said the lifting of the ban on strikes against Russia means the expected impact of the F-16s will now increase significantly.
Peter Leighton, a fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute and a former officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, said that for the F-16s to be most effective, Russian air defenses must be destroyed. Being able to target air defenses deployed in Russia is a big advantage.
Barros said Ukraine will likely have too few F-16s this summer to make significant changes. But over time, it can "grow into a big effect."
He added that lifting additional restrictions by the United States would have a greater effect. The US will still not allow Ukraine to use long-range munitions to strike deep into Russian territory, from where some of Russia's longest-range weapons can fire at Ukraine.
President of Ukraine also called on his allies to further ease restrictions on the use of long-range weapons to strike military targets in Russia, saying Ukraine still cannot stop deadly missile attacks.
Experts say Ukraine's allies should have been given F-16s earlier if they wanted to see the fighter jets strike on the battlefield this year, as problems with pilot training and integration into the Ukrainian military would likely have been resolved.
Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium have pledged about 85 planes to Ukraine, but it is unclear how many are due in the first wave and when more will be delivered.
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