Ukraine needs F-16 fighter jets to effectively defend against Russian high-explosive bombs – Ihnat

The relevant statement was made by Spokesperson for the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yurii Ihnat during a nationwide telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to Ihnat, having depleted strategic missile stocks, Russia is modernizing the FAB-500 general purpose high-explosive bombs, so that they can be guided to a target by GPS navigation.

“Our systems… hit at a maximum range of 75 kilometers – these are the S-300, and the Buk – at a range of 40 kilometers. Thus, the enemy, without flying into the air defense zone, at a distance of 50 kilometers from the combat line or the state border, fires these bombs, and they hit the frontline area more and more,” Ihnat told.

In his words, this is a new challenge, and one of solutions is to send more Patriot or SAMP/T air defense systems to certain areas. But, the most effective solution would be to have the F-16 fighter jets that can fire missiles at a range of up to 180 kilometers.

“Hence, if we receive such aircraft, we will be able to keep Russian planes off,” Ihnat noted.

In addition, Ihnat mentioned that the enemy had depleted ballistic and cruise missile stocks, attacking Ukraine’s infrastructure. Since September 2022, Russia has fired over 800 missiles at Ukraine, as well as suicide drones. More than 700 enemy missiles were shot down by the Ukrainian military.