Waiting for F-16s: What Aircraft Is Ukraine Using on the Battlefield Now?

[@TacticalAviator]

I don’t get I why not train Ukrainian helicopter pilots on the OH-58 Kiowa the USA has a lot in storage. It gives Ukraine the ability to shoot enemy tanks from 7km away with the hellfire missile, the helicopter can fly very low and hover just above the three top and then fire it has good optics for day and night.

[@johnathanrudisill7084]

That would be a good idea

[@my.own.devices]

Awesome idea. There are so many weapon systems we could be offering but aren't. I sometimes wonder if we are really backing Ukraine to win.

[@waelfaraj6705]

Countries serve their interests first ...Some countries do benefit from Russian natural resources at discounted prices so no rush to end the war quickly ...

[@Josh-wj1pn]

Would be a good idea but would it not just get shot down

[@terryfaugno9242]

We gave a bunch to the Greek military already, we might not have that many left. Still don't understand why they won't donate UH-60s, since those would be an even better fit, and they're not in short supply. There's one UH-60 in the UAF, but that was donated privately, not via Lend/Lease or in one of the tranches of military aid.

[@sherryberry2394]

I believe in the AFU 🇺🇦💪🇺🇲

[@garyddlewis3067]

The F16 are being armed with modern weapons and it is those weapons that will provide a huge uplift in Ukraine capabilities.

[@1BigBen]

many of the weapons are already in use on the Ukrainian fleet, but they are not getting full use from them due to Russian tech

[@andersjjensen]

@@1BigBen Not "many". The Ukrainians have managed to cobble up some integrations (I saw one where a tablet was taped to the side of the cockpit!) and they got a few tricks from the Poles who also managed to strap a few NATO weapons to MiG-29s, but it's all a drop in the ocean when you look at how absurdly big the NATO catalogue of air delivered ordnance is. And the F-16 is, still to this day, the aircraft that has the largest compatibility list. The F-35 is getting close, but a few certifications are still hung up on the details. The reason the F-16 is so compatible is because of it's mission pod expansions. Block 50/52 planes have common datalink infrastructure that allows a mission pod to talk both to the cockpit, the weapons it is controlling, and other aircraft with the same configuration. This means that you can turn the plane into a strike bomber with self designated laser guided bombs, a "wild weasel" that can accurately triangulate (requires two planes) enemy radars so HARM missiles will hit even if the target goes cold, an infrared ground recon platform, or a "mini AWACS". And since Block 50/53 also got certification for AIM-120C-3 and C-7 AMRAAM the ruskies are going to stay well clear of any BVR fight with the F-16....

[@badethics7542]

2:09 I'm no helicopter pilot, but this looks very impressive. Balancing your pitch, collective and momentum to achieve the proper firing solution while gaining little to no altitude in order to avoid exposure must be a very delicate act.

[@kamelcoles2674]

The Ghost of Kiev is making a return!!

[@navinkumar-vp7uy]

For sure as a real ghost... 🤣👍

[@andersjjensen]

He never left. That Ukraine still has planes and choppers in the air, at all, speaks volumes about both Ukraine and Russia.

[@xxmobstrxx8535]

@@andersjjensenno it doesn’t. Those aircraft hug the ground because they get shot down and are limited in what they can do. Russian aircraft on the other hand drop hundreds of bombs a day on Ukrainians.

[@bigshnitzeljesse]

​@@navinkumar-vp7uyenjoy the f-16 vids coming soon🤣

[@AK-ej5ml]

Hopefully the F-16 will arrive soon: Every capability which can be moved to a NATO system is a capability which can be quickly scaled if required - with Ukraine's current fleet there's no opportunity to grow or even maintain Ukraine's fleet.

[@terryfaugno9242]

Sweden donating 2 SAAB ASC-90 AWACS planes will enhance the lethality of the F-16s a great deal. It'll allow the F-16s to share tactical data in real time and oversee pretty much the entirety of Ukraine while they're aloft. It will also enhance the lethality of ground forces as well, with or without air cover from the F-16s. Still would be nice to add Gripen to the mix, given the conditions in Ukraine are exactly the kind of conditions it was meant to fight in, i.e. can take off and land from grass strips or sections of highway, field maintenance and refuel/rearming can be done by small teams working from trucks, etc. But there are literally thousands of F-16s in existence, and the supply chains for them are robust vs. the Gripen where the total output of airframes is a few hundred at most, and Sweden is the largest user, with Hungary next down and we know how they feel about the fight, the rest, Thailand, Brazil, and S. Africa are all in the Russian sphere of influence to some degree.

[@Yuki_Ika7]

Slava Ukaini! Heroyam Slava!

[@NoWorldOrder2023]

🤢🤮

[@brandonhamilton833]

Slava Ukraine! 🇺🇸 ❤️ 🇺🇦

[@florys1210]

You are all brave people. I wish you good health and to be safe. I hope the west will help more and wake up from their dream. Because without involving things will not get better. Thanks for the English version. Slava Ukraine.

[@daikucoffee5316]

I‘m disappointed how we in Western Europe have let the people of Ukraine down. Our politicians are way too cowardly

[@danieldenz5004]

@@daikucoffee5316 So get down and fight yourself, instead of blaming everyone else? Who is the real coward????? You...

[@daikucoffee5316]

@@danieldenz5004 I bet you are one of those that has never lifted anything heavier than a pencil.

[@danieldenz5004]

@@daikucoffee5316 Boss you got it, get a move on. Big boy

[@danieldenz5004]

@SomethingBlonde-oc7sc Treason usually results in death???

[@BongVavk]

Bravo Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@dayforit1750]

Slava Ukraini ❤

[@richardwallinger1683]

If old tanks are better than no tanks what about old apache helicopters . they are still competent exterminators .

[@davidfell9083]

A very interesting and well produced vid

[@Deft300]

Imo the using the individuals voice and using subtitles is much more preferred

[@kenfeeb355]

Same, let me study 😫

[@josephking6515]

AH-64s would be a nice addition to Ukraine's military air wing. They could pound the enemy occupied trenches from a safer distance and make the fertiliser into smaller and easier to digest pieces for regrowth of the destroyed wind breaks between the farmers massive crop fields.

[@annehersey9895]

WHERE ARE THE F-16’s??! I heard this June the first batch would be coming and June is over!

[@paahtopro3950]

Hearsay. theyre working on it as fast as possbile

[@1BigBen]

its just a estimate time of arrival by armchair quarterbacks

[@toby9999]

They're no use without combat ready pilots, right?

[@annehersey9895]

@@toby9999 there ARE combat ready pilots. Not enough yet but a start.

[@DOI_ARTS]

Aircraft training and logistics is not lije Warthunder. Need technicians and pilots and armaments that you cant buy with digital money

[@prezdentraygun8790]

I have been hearing the end of this month for 12 months.

[@virtual2152]

That shot of the Mi-8 engine: Oh yeah, piece of cake (not).

[@MG-fr3tn]

His face was asking you guys that know why so hard.

[@eaubert1]

Rest in Peace, Moonfish 🙏

[@dv2045]

They getting F16 Block20. It aint the newest models like Block72s. Hope thy get an upgrade in avionics to keep it on par to SU35s (their main adversary due the SU30/27s and Mig 29s are inferior avionics to Block20s)

[@andersjjensen]

All the Danish, Norwegian and Dutch ones are Block 50/52... so I don't know where you got that info.

[@ttmaggebo]

@@andersjjensen Theyre Block 20 MLU which makes them equivalent to the Block 50/52 however the American ones all have AESA radars now and not the original.

[@andersjjensen]

@@ttmaggebo I think some of the Norwegian ones were bought as Block 52. But the point is that OP claimed they were Block 20 which would be arcane. Whether they were upgraded or bough new as Block 50/52 is only relevant in terms of flight hours on the air frame. And what the American ones have also isn't (currently) particularly relevant, as the US still hasn't pledged any planes.

[@romanbrough]

Not long ago people were saying that the M1 tank would be a game changer. When they arrived, they were 40 year old tired tanks. Lacking reactive armour, and just old. But the Ukrainians like them, better designed and easier to drive. They need lots of maintenance are fuel thirty, but are better tanks when updated. Problem is, tanks are just big targets. NOT the decisive weapon they were in earlier conflicts, Useful, not decisive.

[@dukeallen432]

No one said this about Abrams. And the proper use of tanks is with air cover which Ukraine doesn’t currently have.

[@peteparker7396]

@@dukeallen432 it’s more then that, its combined arms. As in boots on the ground. That is western doctrine created by us Americans.

[@ВасилийЛомовой-я8ь]

@@dukeallen432 The United States supplied 30 tanks. I don’t know, does anyone think that such a quantity can somehow influence anything? Russia lost 130 tanks only in the attack on Avdeevka, you don’t believe that 30 tanks can defeat THOUSANDS of Russian ones?

[@1BigBen]

it was, without it, Germany would be still saying NO to Leopard 2, just Germany will say NO to Taurus until F-16 started launching AGM-158, as Taurus and AGM-158 are used on F-15E Strike Eagle and F/A-18 Hornet, F-16 will most likely be Ukraine launching platform for Taurus IF Germany says YES.

[@6789uiop]

The cavalry is about to charge over the horizon...

[@ARGONUAT]

Sic ‘em Dawgs!!! Bring us some bear meat!!!

[@kenfeeb355]

My comments never show up!!! KZbin is really getting pressed by Ruski Mir huh?? They don't even have KZbin!!!

[@danieldenz5004]

@SomethingBlonde-oc7sc Wow give this man a tinfoil hat. Brainy be cracking them codes WOW!

[@alphonsealfred7337]

💙💛🇺🇦👍👊

[@MG-fr3tn]

Hovercraft with missiles, the back blast effect wont interface with the missiles enguagemeng. The resultant push back wont matter. Fits with radar mines martials and complexity.

[@dylanlarose9171]

Glory to Moonfish.

[@GerryCorbin-xd6vn]

The Apachies would be an asset along with the super cobre gun ship.

[@RPGROBx]

When are the f-16s going to be in Ukraine? I'm tired of hearing about delays.

[@Americium-120]

You sound like a petulant child. "I want my side to have its toy right now! Stop telling me that my team can't have it!" Kiddo, it turns out that advanced weaponry requires... GASP!!!!... training. Training takes a lot longer than a 10 minute tutorial on a videogame.

[@ricopedrajrs]

Cheers to Ukraine, the heroes of the free world!

[@lifelearner47]

A French ex-fighter pilot with lots of connection in and around Ukraine has mention that the first F-16 strike from Ukraine has been made. But all Anglo-saxon milbloggers are silent. So what's happening @United24 ?

[@Jevil83]

Think they won't tell too soon, Putin is waiting for destroying them, so they stay silent🤫

[@Julian-zj2qy]

where did you read that?

[@yohanbzhhh88]

Qui ça ? Xavier tytelman?

[@Vladimirthetiny]

OPSEC...

[@olavl8827]

No one is going to confirm this before it is undeniable. Keep the enemy guessing as long as possible.

[@musicmikeish]

Good luck outrunning SAM missiles.

[@doolittlegeorge]

Advantage of F-16 is huge numbers....thousands possibly. Still in production as well. This will be the combat debut of the F-16 tho. Integrating into Ukraine Air Defense which currently is the best in the World will be an additive challenge. Western Pilots not being able to fly their own planes will cause issues as well.

[@peteparker7396]

Combat debut? What do you mean by that?

[@zaphod22]

Around 5000 of these are in service.

[@stevemasters7848]

I believe the U.S. lifted a ban on U.S. military contracts from working in Ukraine recently. Be interesting to see how many former pilots will join Ukraines air force

[@peteparker7396]

@@stevemasters7848 it is talked about but not a done deal. And unfortunately there are rules and regs in place that prohibit just that for certain personnel. Again, it’s not going to make that much difference when they don’t have the full package they are trained on and in, at their disposal.

[@ThrasherGnar]

@@peteparker7396 combat debut in Ukraine, obviously.

[@Mr12BS]

Know if the Sky Warden has been evaluated? Seems like a good in between platform.

[@neerajoshi5473]

Real question when are F-16s actually going to enter combat they said it will enter combat this month but they haven’t so when is it actually going to enter combat?

[@dukeallen432]

When they are ready.

[@Julian-zj2qy]

I think that may be a military secret.

[@mistap9115]

, they don’t tell the media when it will enter in combat service because that will give the Russians prep time to counter them ahead of time

[@zeexe1707]

Build the same helmet

[@thessalonians6004]

💙🙏💛

[@AdrienneReneau-ky4sc]

Outnumbered and outdated finding parts woe

[@The_ZeroLine]

I hope Ukraine is putting rookies or very young pilots in the F-16 because, as Poland found out, it’s pretty much impossible to convert pilots very experienced flying Soviet jets to F-16s.

[@iwenameh]

f16 hands down my favoriite jet ever, humble ahh deadly plane fr

[@benson4820]

skibidi rizz ahh language frfr

[@TheOilers41]

Ukraine will definitely need more F-16’s however Ukraine should also receive modern western attack and transport helicopters.

[@jaytm6719]

Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦 🇺🇸

[@PHUNGUYEN-nw2gw]

Україна врешті-решт програє, залишившись без людей і зброї, я вірю

[@2AToday]

The permanent subtitles are NOT NECESSARY! Please stop including them. Use the subtitles that can be turned on or off in the video settings, by each viewer.

[@my.own.devices]

YES. Vids with fixed subs are annoying AF and borderline unwatchable. The ones where each word pops us as it's spoken are the worst, but these are bad enough.

[@2AToday]

@@my.own.devices Completely agree, that's exactly how I feel too. For the ones with each word popping up, I IMMEDIATELY quit watching. And unsubscribe (if applicable).

[@unreal4010]

The f-16 won't change anything

[@anaryl]

o7

[@intelprointelpro4452]

La CIA m'espionne 😵😵😵

[@peteparker7396]

I don’t think people realize how insignificant the f-16’s will be. They will be a moral boost but they’re not game changers.

[@dukeallen432]

Bull

[@chris.tarlagias]

much better than mig-29S’s and su-27s’s kekw

[@marijnnn4992]

they have 120 jets most likely less now so those jets will up there capebility alot and they should have better radars

[@peteparker7396]

@@marijnnn4992 lol they are not getting 120 of them! Did you mean 12? They are C models. Lots and lot of hours on the airframes.

[@peteparker7396]

@@dukeallen432 that’s all you can say? Go ahead and regale us with why I’m wrong.

[@JarodFarrant]

It’s extraordinary Ukraine Air Force still exists and is taking the war back to the enemy ❤🇺🇦🇨🇦💛💙💛💙

[@AQ-RAMiN]

Faghat shoma 2 keshvar UK Vs rus ghorbani hastid ..

[@marialuciasophiapasquini495]

.... uuuuaaaauuuuu 🧡🧡🧡🧡

[@dannychan7759]

Yeah !..When's the F-16 going to Appear on UKRAINE Sky Theater ?....I Already order a New Beer Cooler & a 4K TV to Watch the Destruction of RUSSIANS Army......SLAVA UKRAINE ⚔

[@maxencechollet1257]

F-16 has been in Ukraine sky today, started today 👀👀👀👀👀

[@nestordalida399]

Nice to hear that though it is really true?

[@Americium-120]

@@nestordalida399 No.

[@mep593]

Ukraine you mean Russia.

[@zeexe1707]

Show face

[@zeexe1707]

@jammiefortier1480 face