Moscow, August 5 – The F-16 fighter jets recently delivered to Ukraine may eventually be destroyed as they cannot compete with Russia’s Su-35S, according to Russian industrial conglomerate Rostec.
In a statement released by the state-owned corporation, it was pointed out that “if you look at the specifications of the US-made aircraft, the conclusion is unambiguous: It is not a rival to the Su-35S, much less the Su-57.” The company went on to say that in head-on air combat, Russian jets are superior to their American counterparts.
Despite the F-16 not being the newest aircraft model, Rostec warned that it can still carry advanced missile systems and cause significant problems for Russian forces. However, the state-owned corporation emphasized that the fighter jets, along with other Western equipment, would ultimately face destruction.
On August 4, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky confirmed the first delivery of F-16 fighter jets from Western allies, although he did not specify the number of aircraft received or their intended base location. Prior to this announcement, The Economist reported that Ukraine had received ten F-16 jets from Western countries, with plans to increase the number to 20 by the end of the year. The same report indicated that Ukraine could potentially receive a total of 79 F-16s, which would be transferred incrementally through 2025.
Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed the significance of these weapons deliveries to Ukraine, asserting that they would not alter the situation on the battlefield but instead prolong it. He also stated that any fighter jets operated by Ukraine would face the same fate as other heavily promoted Western military equipment: being burned.