The Ukrainian Air Force is set to introduce several hundred fighter jets into its air force.
The Ukrainian Air Force is undergoing its most important phase in its history. Engaged in an existential struggle with one of the most powerful air forces in the world, the Ukrainian Air Force is changing its whole core and culture at the same time.
In the next months and years, the Ukrainian Air Force is set to introduce several hundred fighter jets of different types, revolutionizing its capabilities but also embarking on a quest for change.
Ukraine’s Air Force Is Getting Modern NATO Jets
When the Russian military invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian Air Force operated a small number of older Soviet and Russian aircraft, including MiG-29 Fulcrum, Su-24 Fencer, Su-25 Frogfoot, and Su-27 Flanker fighter and attack jets.
Despite their small numbers and old aircraft, the Ukrainian pilots managed to prevent the Russian Aerospace Forces from establishing air superiority over the battlefield. Ukraine’s air defense systems also helped in that goal.
Today, almost four years later, the Ukrainian Air Force is changing.
In a recent visit to France, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with French president Emannuel Macron and signed a letter of intent for the purchase of 100 Dassault Rafale fighter jets.
Only a few weeks before Zelenskyy flew to France, he signed a similar agreement with the Swedish government for the purchase of 100 to 150 JAS Gripen fighter jets. So, if the two deals go through, the Ukrainian Air Force is set to have up to 250 new fighter jets in its fleet.
In addition to these aircraft, the Ukrainian Air Force anticipated adding to its ranks scores of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets donated by NATO countries.
To this day, several NATO countries have promised approximately 85 F-16s to Ukraine. However, not all the fighter jets will be in a flying condition, and those that are too old to fly will be used for spare parts to support the operational fleet.
“This is one of the best aircraft [the Dassault Rafale] that can be used for our defense. Together with Swedish Gripens and American F-16s, the Ukrainian Air Force will be able to carry out all necessary defense missions and will guarantee our security,” the Ukrainian president said from Paris, showing that Kyiv is already making plans for a completely new Ukrainian Air Force.
The Ukrainian Air Force is also flying a small number of Dassault Mirage fighter jets and could potentially receive more as operators around the world retire the aircraft.
Can Ukraine’s Air Force Change Its Culture?
Introducing a new type of fighter jet is not simple, especially if the new fighter aircraft comes from a different design philosophy. The structure, cockpit, and avionics are all different. Fighter jet pilots learn to fly an aircraft without thinking about their movements or actions. The aircraft becomes an extension of themselves, giving pilots the opportunity to make split-second life and death decisions. Thus, training for a new type of fighter jet is not easy. And it is particularly hard if that type of fighter has been designed with a completely different mindset.
So, it will take a significant amount of time for the Ukrainian Air Force to establish the pilot and maintainer structure to support so many new fighter jets of different types. But if it successfully pulls off the transition, it will become one of the most powerful air forces in Europe.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
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.
Image: DVIDS.
