F-16 fighters are higher priority for Ukraine than A-10 attack aircraft - Air Force
The priority for the aviation of the Ukrainian Air Force remains obtaining F-16 multi-role fighters from Western partners to gain air superiority, after which options for attack aircraft and attack helicopters can be considered in the future to directly support ground troops.
This was stated by the spokesman of the Air Force, Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, in a commentary to Ukrainian Pravda, Censor.NET reports.
"The Air Force's position on the adoption of Western aircraft remains unchanged: the priority is F-16s, which our pilots are currently training on. There may be another type, but it will be a multi-purpose aircraft capable of engaging air, ground, and surface targets. That is why the F-16 is multifunctional and can perform a number of these functions with a wide range of weapons," said Ihnat.
The Air Force spokesperson notes that the A-10 aircraft mentioned by the Land Forces Commander performs a mono-function: it is capable of supporting ground troops with fire, i.e. delivering powerful strikes on enemy positions on the ground.
In addition, the A-10 is much more expensive to maintain than the F-16.
"The A-10 platform will be too burdensome for the Air Force aviation, we simply do not have enough resources to develop this aircraft, both material and human," says Ihnat.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine already have attack aircraft in service, namely Su-25s, which are currently operating close to the front line, along with helicopters of the Army and Air Force (Mi-24, Mi-8). In addition, there are two types of MiG-29 fighters, Su-27, a Su-24M bomber, and transport aircraft.
"It is clear that air support is very important for the Land Forces. But this function is precisely what Su-25 and helicopters perform," adds the Air Force spokesman.
Given that the enemy has a lot of air defence equipment on the front line and has air superiority, particularly in the occupied territories where powerful Russian Su-35 aircraft systems threaten Ukrainian aircraft, the use of attack aircraft is severely limited, the officer explains.
Both pilots and helicopters are now striking the enemy using the "cabriole" method, which means turning the "nose" upwards and actually sending unguided missiles along a ballistic trajectory.
Ihnat emphasises that a prerequisite for success is to gain air superiority, which can be provided by both the F-16 aircraft and medium- and long-range anti-aircraft missile systems.
"After that, it becomes possible to effectively use attack aircraft for its intended purpose to support ground troops, as well as combat helicopters, including those of the Western model, which our brothers in the army aviation are eager to receive (Apache, Black Hawk, etc.).
Of course, the Commander of the Land Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, would like to see more air support, but Ukraine has not sent an official request for A-10s. Today, the No. 1 issue is the development of the F-16," Ihnat said.
In an interview with Reuters, Ukraine's Land Forces Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Kyiv needs more military aircraft for combat operations, such as US A-10 attack aircraft to support the infantry.
The colonel general also said Ukraine needs aircraft that can launch long-range cruise missiles.
