Ukraine needs, first of all, multipurpose fighters. Even if the partners hand over the MiG-29, it will not solve the problems that Ukrainian aviation is facing today.
Colonel Yuriy Ignat, the spokesman of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told about this on the air of the telethon, informs Censor. NO with reference to Army Information.
“We understand that the enemy is superior to us both numerically and technologically. He has multi-purpose aircraft that are ready to perform many tasks on the battlefield, are capable of hitting air and ground targets, and have a wide range of weapons. Unfortunately, we have outdated weapons and airplanes. It was possible to adapt something to American weapons, in particular to such as HARM missiles. But this is not enough,” Ignat said.
In order to respond to existing threats, Ukraine needs multi-role aircraft such as the F-15 and F-16. The enemy does not hide further plans to destroy civilian and critical infrastructure. To repel this threat, long-range weapons, both missile and those that can operate from multi-purpose aircraft, are needed.
“Therefore, it is necessary to seek the adoption of a political decision on the transfer of these aircraft to Ukraine. After all, they are capable of shooting down cruise missiles in flight, as well as striking ground targets, thus reaching the enemy far in the rear,” said the spokesman of the Air Force.
Ignat said that the pilots who are ready to go for training to fly foreign planes have already been identified. However, in order to send them, it is necessary to make a decision on the type of aircraft that will be used by the PS.
“When it becomes clear where and to what type of aircraft our pilots need to be redirected, they will go to training. In addition, it is necessary to train military engineers who will maintain the equipment and the airfield infrastructure, i.e. adapt it to Western models of equipment,” the spokesman said of the Air Force
Ignat also noted that according to the perspective model of the Air Force by 2035, Ukraine plans to have at least 5 brigades of fighter aircraft, several units of unmanned aircraft, armed with modern UAVs, in particular, those that can be built in Ukraine.