Defence Express: USA Hands Over F-16s To Ukraine For Specific Purposes
- 5.08.2024, 13:15
Journalists have noticed an interesting detail.
The main donors of F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine are the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgium. Although the US has distanced itself from the aircraft transfer, it did take part in it.
As Defense Express writes, experts noticed an interesting detail on the published video of the planes that were behind the back of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They were different from the two that were armed and carried out flights.
"In particular, the attention of Western experts was attracted by the antennas of the own-stranger system, which are located in front of the cockpit. Such a sharp shape of antennas was used in the first F-16A, and the presence of a searchlight on the right side allows to identify this aircraft as F-16A ADF. This is a special modification of the fighter for air defence, which was transferred to the American National Guard. The second aircraft in the 'static display' also has a similar shape of antennas, but there is no searchlight," the analysts said.
In addition, the fighters did not have automatic 20mm cannons, technical inscriptions and so on. In this regard, it has been assumed that at least these two F-16s were handed over by the Americans as decoys.
"At the same time, it is the American side that remains virtually the only candidate for the donor role, because the planes of this design were exported second-hand to Jordan and Thailand, as well as lent to Italy," the experts added.
That is why their demonstration did not carry any risks for those aircraft that are on combat duty. According to Defence Express, using F-16 fuselages as decoys is the most effective solution, as the difference from the real ones is so insignificant that it is difficult to notice. A satellite, drone or even an observer with binoculars cannot distinguish them from the real ones. It is likely that modern inflatable mock-ups of these planes will also be added.
"One should understand that destroying Ukrainian F-16s will be task No. 1 for the enemy, so any methods and tricks of camouflaging fighters, their basing locations and observing information silence is the key to their effective use," the analysts summed up.