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Competing the power of Russia's Su-57 and the Western F-16 about to be transferred to Ukraine 0
(Dan Tri) – Ukraine is about to receive the first F-16 fighter jets from Western allies in the hope of balancing air power with Russia.
US-made F-16 fighter jet (left) and Russia’s Su-57 (Photo: Wikimedia).
After many diplomatic efforts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finally got the nod from Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium, NATO members committed to providing F-16 fighter jets to Kiev.
Since early April, Washington and its allies have been training Ukrainian pilots on US-made fighter jets, and are expected to hand them over to Kiev in the next few weeks.
Ukraine expects these F-16s to be as effective as Russia’s Su-57 fleet, a fighter line that has been deployed by Moscow since the early days of the conflict.
Many argue that while the F-16 brings high reliability and flexibility to Ukraine’s defense system, Russia’s Su-57 also poses a significant challenge despite its limited numbers and program.
This means that the Su-57 is unlikely to operate in conflict hotspots on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Su-57: Stealth capabilities and advanced technology
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Russian Su-57 fighter jet (Photo: Getty).
Russia’s 5th generation fighter is equipped with advanced stealth technology, 3-dimensional thrust vector control engines and a variety of weapons.
According to Russian military documents, the Su-57 can fly at a speed `twice the speed of sound`, a maximum altitude of about 18km and a range of up to 2,900km.
Accompanying weapons include radar-guided or infrared-guided air-to-air missiles, unguided air-to-ground missiles, conventional bombs, cluster bombs and 30mm artillery.
This twin-engine stealth fighter was developed by Sukhoi in the early 2000s and has its roots in the Cold War era.
However, the Su-57 encountered obstacles such as production delays and many performance problems, especially with engines and stealth features.
Despite the above disadvantages, the Su-57, designated `Felon` by NATO, still has certain advantages compared to the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
F-16: Flexibility and mobility
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US-made F-16 fighter jet (Photo: AFP).
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is known for its flexibility and maneuverability.
The F-16 was initially designed as a light air superiority fighter and gradually evolved into a multirole fighter that can operate in all weather conditions.
The F-16 can fly at speeds of over 2,400km/h and operate at altitudes of up to 15km, slightly lower than the Su-57.
US jets are also equipped with upgraded radar systems such as the AN/APG-66, helping them track targets both in the air and on the ground from a distance of nearly 100km.
These fighters will replace Kiev’s gradually exhausted MiG-29, Su-24 and Su-25 fleet, fighter lines that their opponents have long known.
However, a report by the US General Accounting Office last year placed the F-16 on the list of the most difficult military aircraft to maintain.
`For the F-16 to operate effectively, Ukraine needs to build and maintain an extensive logistics infrastructure. This includes training pilots, establishing maintenance, refueling and supply systems
At the same time, this expert said: `The F-16 will not be a factor that can immediately change the game.`