What would supplying Western fighter jets mean for Ukraine?
Kyiv has been asking for F-16s. (Photo: USAF)
The country currently operates a Soviet-era fleet of fast jets, including Su-24s, Su-25s, Su-27s and MiG-29s that have been in service for over 20 years.
As the conflict in Ukraine evolves, requests for military equipment and technologies from Kyiv have been changing. Currently, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s armed forces say they are in urgent need of fighter jets.
The country currently has a Soviet-era fleet of fixed-wing combat aircraft, including the Su-24, Su-25, Su-27 and MiG-29, that have been in service for over two decades.
Apart from operating ageing systems, Ukraine has also lost 55 fighter jets since the war started in February 2022 according to open-source intelligence site Oryx. Shephard Defence Insight notes that Zelensky’s armies currently have around 60 fighter
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![UK SMEs remain vulnerable in effort to help build sovereign capabilities, JCNSS report warns]()
UK SMEs remain vulnerable in effort to help build sovereign capabilities, JCNSS report warns
The report comes as heads of industry bodies warn that the delayed defence spending plan has left smaller and medium sized businesses in stasis, unable to plan or seek out further investment.
-
![Norway revitalises effort to acquire a tactical-class UAV with $103 million competition]()
Norway revitalises effort to acquire a tactical-class UAV with $103 million competition
Norway first scoped the requirement in 2022, and included it in a defence strategy document in 2023. The announcement of a new framework agreement appears to have breathed fresh life into the effort.
-
![March Drone Digest: Long-range, low-cost loitering munitions are changing warfare economics]()
March Drone Digest: Long-range, low-cost loitering munitions are changing warfare economics
The effective use of the Shahed-136 in the Iran war has highlighted the need for countries to acquire a domestically produced, low-cost, long-range loitering munition, with the US, Turkey and European nations all at various stages of developing a similar capability.
-
![Franco-German alliance aims to resolve FCAS woes by end of April as dispute rolls on]()
Franco-German alliance aims to resolve FCAS woes by end of April as dispute rolls on
The disagreement between French-German industry continues as both governments work to keep the programme alive and on track to develop and deliver a sixth-generation fighter jet.
-
![US Air Force is eyeing cost-effective automated counter-drone solutions]()
US Air Force is eyeing cost-effective automated counter-drone solutions
The USAF is seeking on-the-move systems, subsystems or technologies capable of defending airbases and fixed and semi-fixed sites against small drone attacks.
