Ukraine has been wanting war-changing fighter jets such as MiG-29 and F-16. Read to know why they are useful.
Does Ukraine need fighter jets?
Since the recent Russian invasion two weeks ago, Ukraine has been successful in keeping Russian troops at bay both on the ground and in the air. However, the Ukrainian government is asking for equipment and weapons to help in the efforts. However, pilots in Ukraine are trained to fly Soviet-made jets. Hence, supplying US-made jets will not be useful. “The next big hurdle will now be the fighter jets. If we get them the advantages on the battlefield will be just immense. It’s not just F-16s, fourth-generation aircraft, this is what we want,” stated Yuriy Sak. Sak is the advisor to Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov.
Poland has offered its Mikoyan MiG-29 instead. Tehya re Soviet-made fighter gets first made in the 1970s. They are currently in use in several European nations and India. However, NATO offering the Polish MiG-29s is a clear signal of the west’s willingness. Additionally, as per an AP report, militarily “the number of planes offered would make it unlikely to be a game-changer”. Moreover, the MiF-29s are less superior to newer and more sophisticated Russian warplanes.
Warplanes: A symbol or a need?
In wars, fighter jets are more than their technical capacities. For example, Robert Kluge describes them as a “myth” since they move in a third dimension. They are also seen as a symbol, boosting the morale of the troops. Simply having them is a strategy of war to make your enemies have second thoughts.
Additionally, the decision of providing the warplanes is a combination of feasibility, logistics, and political will. For example, jets such as the US-made F-16s require long and high-quality runways, which Ukraine is currently lacking. On the other hand, Rafael needs high manpower on the ground for preparing and repairing it. This means more people will be vulnerable to attacks.