After nearly 15 months of standing solidly against providing Ukraine with fighter aircraft with more up-to-date weapons and mission systems to take on Russian aircraft, Joe Biden took the opportunity to do an about-face at the G-17 leaders meeting in Japan on Friday, May 19. Since the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine started over 450 days ago, President Volodymyr Zelensky has begged for more advanced weapons. The Biden administration dithered. Zelensky asked specifically for Soviet-era MIG-29s to replace Ukraine’s combat losses. Poland agreed, but Biden said no. Over a year later, Poland and Slovakia have provided MIG-29s. Zelensky asked the US to provide a more advanced fighter, the fourth-generation F-16, more than 13 months ago Again, Biden said no, so Zelensky asked for advanced air defense weapons, tanks, and ground-to-ground precision multiple rocket systems.
Only after months of hesitation and useless debate did the US agree. As a result, highly effective American anti-aircraft missile batteries finally arrived and are proving devastating in ridding the skies of Russian cruise missiles and drones over Kyiv and the rest of Ukraine. Had they been provided immediately when requested, much of the carnage from Russian air attacks could have been avoided. So, what was the issue with providing F-16s – and why the change of heart now?
The F-16 Flies in the Militaries of 25 Countries
Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-16 “Fighting Falcon,” has produced roughly 4,600 units for export, and 3,000 are currently operational in 25 countries worldwide. The appeal of the F-16 is its supersonic speed, maneuverability, and the variety of ordinance with the capability to do both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Parts and maintenance support is readily available since the prime contractor has licensed the Dutch, Belgium, Denmark, and Norway as manufacturers. Such proximity would reduce transit time for maintenance until the Kyiv government can establish its organic support. The F-16 has a sophisticated radar, advanced weapons systems, and electronic countermeasures. However, with advanced capabilities comes the need for more seasoned pilot skills and intense training.
Training time was one of the arguments the Biden administration hanged its hat on for not providing F-16s. Now the US will join an international consortium to train Ukrainian pilots on several modern fighter aircraft, including F-16s. Since the Russians first attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the Biden defense team resisted sending the Kyiv government any weapons it deemed provocative to Russian President Putin widening the scope of his aggression. But as NATO allies became more inclined to meet Zelensky’s pleas for more a capable fighter aircraft, Biden realized the US position was unrealistic and caved to the pressure. Nonetheless, the US has not agreed to provide American F-16s, though the US has said it would not stop others. As Lara Seligman reported for Politico on the significance of the US turnaround:
“The move could pave the way to eventually send advanced Western fighter jets to Ukraine, and discussions are ongoing about how and when that would happen, the official said. The coalition of countries participating in the training effort will decide when to actually provide the jets, how many to send and who will transfer them as the training takes place over the coming months.”
If the time necessary for training was the Biden administration’s logic for what appears to be indecision, it was always a weak argument. It’s a flaw in instant reasoning, suitable only for the moment. It was said a year ago, nine months ago, six months ago, and three months ago. Had the White House national security team made the decision when Moscow invaded Ukraine, F-16s would be in the air over Ukraine with experienced, trained Ukrainian pilots. Whether the White House wanted to make this decision, Biden’s national security team was forced to agree to at least the training. Furthermore, the length of time for the training is not likely to be what the Biden national security experts claimed.
Training Ukrainian Pilots in the F-16 Takes Less Time than Officials Say
(Photo by Harald Tittel/picture alliance via Getty Images)
“US officials have estimated the most expeditious time needed for training and delivery of F-16s at 18 months,” Reuters reported. However, the quoted official doesn’t know much about experienced fighter pilots, which the Ukrainians will be, transitioning from Kyiv’s current jet fighters to the F-16. “To learn the first stage of takeoff and landing and flying from point A to point B, it will take a few weeks, but to learn how to fight on it, to learn how to use missiles, we will take around six months,” Colonel Yuri Ignat told Air & Space Forces Magazine in a July 2022 videoconference from Ukraine’s Air Force headquarters in Vinnytsia, Ukraine.
Again, the Biden administration is following the initiative of US allies. “A handful of European countries have a supply of the US-made F-16s, including the Netherlands, which has signaled a willingness to export some of them to Ukraine…While the US remains reluctant to send any of its own F-16s to Kyiv, that the administration is prepared to approve the export of the jets to Ukraine if that is what allies decide to do with their supply,” US officials told CNN News.
Additionally, there is strong bipartisan congressional support for sending F-16s to Ukraine. In a March 14, 2023, letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, eight senators representing both political parties urged Austin to consider sending F-16s to Ukraine. “This would be a significant capability that could prove to be a game changer on the battlefield,” the senators’ letter urged. Nevertheless, the Biden administration seems never to be out in front leading the initiatives to support Ukraine. Instead, the Biden White House initially is reluctant and then, by circumstance or the persuasion of other nations, finally does what is right. Why Biden must be pushed, cajoled, urged, or embarrassed into conceding to take obvious courses of action is a mystery.
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