Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Re: Fighter Jets.

I cannot see any Western fighters entering the arena in Ukraine. There are a number of reasons for this, most of this has been mentioned already by many posters.

This. SO much this. Talk of F-16's and the like has always been to my mind a pointless exercise, or a propaganda thing to appeal to people.

On Friday, during a closed briefing with more than 10 U.S. lawmakers, Cavoli was asked whether the F-16 fighters would help Ukraine win the war against Russia. He responded: "Yes," according to five people in the room who spoke with Politico on the condition of anonymity.

Cavoli said Ukraine needs longer-range missiles to allow its forces to strike Russian positions from farther away, putting headquarters and rear supply lines at risk, which would help disrupt the Russian war machine inside Ukraine.

At the Munich Security Conference, Cavoli said the United States and its allies should provide Ukraine with the most advanced weapons they have, including advanced aircraft, drones, and missiles with ranges over 100 kilometers.

Those weapons would do a better job positioning Kyiv to repel Moscow’s troops, Cavoli said.

The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, called for Ukraine to receive F-16 fighter jets.."Ukraine needs tanks, artillery, and fighter jets": the head of the Munich Conference stated.13/02/2023, 21:00:24

Former British Air Commander Makes The Case For Sending Fighter Jets To Ukraine (Air vice Marshal)

RFE/RL: Onto the question of Western countries sending fighter jets to Ukraine. What's the reasoning, the rationale behind not sending them, which seems to be the consensus at this point, in Washington, London, and Berlin?

Bagwell: You're going to have to ask me to be imaginative here, because I can't see the reason why not. But I know why it happens.... The primary reason we have not seen aircraft pushed forward to Ukraine is that there is a perception, falsely in my view, that aircraft cross some sort of red line as to what is acceptable to Russia, in order to support Ukraine. And, of course, Russia would [welcome] that impression...because the last thing they need is Western aircraft troubling them over the skies of Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-fighter-jets-f16-case/32262419.html

West should hand over combat aircraft to Ukraine – ex-NATO commander

James G. Stavridis, former commander-in-chief of NATO forces in Europe, said this on ZDF.

"I believe that Ukraine needs combat aircraft," Stavridis said.

In particular, he advocates the provision of Polish MiG-29 and American F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv.

According to Stavridis, MiG-29s can be delivered directly, and the Ukrainians know how to operate them. As for the second type of aircraft, this scheme will take more time, but Ukrainian pilots could quickly learn to fly the F-16: "It is a relatively simple aircraft that is easy to master."

US lawmakers urged Biden to train F-16 pilots ‘today’

Republican senator Lindsey Graham told ABC today that the lawmakers attending the Munich Security Conference were in "virtually unanimous belief" that the US should provide training on F-16s.

They said Mr Biden’s decision on the matter is "imminent".

Mr Graham added that the group had told Mr Biden to "stop worrying about provoking Putin" and to focus on "beating" Vladimir Putin instead.

Pelosi in Munich called the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine a top priority.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Pelosi noted that throughout 2022, US lawmakers have consistently worked to fulfill Ukraine's requests for military support.

"Now we want to achieve the transfer of the F-16. I fully support this and hope that this will be implemented," the politician said.

Biden was asked again if the U.S. would provide F-16s to Ukraine."No," he responded - 30-1-2023

The US ambassador to the United Nations indicated on Sunday that the White House could reverse its refusal to supply F-16 jets to Ukraine. 19-2-2023