In the skies over Ukraine, one of the most dramatic fighter duels in decades is taking shape between an aging, but highly potent Western jet and one of Russia's most advanced fighters: the battle of the F-16 Fighting Falcon vs. the Sukhoi Su-35.
This will be more than a clash of fighters. It will be a battle of philosophies between the Russian conception of fighters optimized for air combat, versus the Western conception of jets equally adept at air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.
It's also a battle between old and new. The F-16s that Ukraine will receive were designed in the 1970s, though heavily upgraded over the years. Nonetheless, desperate to replace its dwindling fleet of Soviet-era Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters, Ukraine will be glad to receive 45 or more pre-owned F-16s from Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, who are replacing their Falcons with F-35 stealth fighters. With Ukrainian pilots currently being trained in the U.S. and other nations, the first Ukrainian-piloted F-16s may fly this summer.
The Su-35 made its combat debut during Russia's 2016 intervention in Syria. But the war in Ukraine marks the Su-35's real baptism of fire against an opponent equipped with modern fighters and anti-aircraft missiles. |
In the skies over Ukraine, one of the most dramatic fighter duels in decades is taking shape between an aging, but highly potent Western jet and one of Russia's most advanced fighters: the battle of the F-16 Fighting Falcon vs. the Sukhoi Su-35.
This will be more than a clash of fighters. It will be a battle of philosophies between the Russian conception of fighters optimized for air combat, versus the Western conception of jets equally adept at air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.
It's also a battle between old and new. The F-16s that Ukraine will receive were designed in the 1970s, though heavily upgraded over the years. Nonetheless, desperate to replace its dwindling fleet of Soviet-era Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters, Ukraine will be glad to receive 45 or more pre-owned F-16s from Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, who are replacing their Falcons with F-35 stealth fighters. With Ukrainian pilots currently being trained in the U.S. and other nations, the first Ukrainian-piloted F-16s may fly this summer.
The Su-35 made its combat debut during Russia's 2016 intervention in Syria. But the war in Ukraine marks the Su-35's real baptism of fire against an opponent equipped with modern fighters and anti-aircraft missiles. |
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