NATO and the US have donated a lot of ωεɑρσռs to Ukraine, but not a single Western fighter has been delivered to Kiev. Despite having delivered a lot of ωεɑρσռs to Ukraine, neither the US nor NATO has given a single Western fighter to Kiev. So what is the reason? The F-16 is considered to be the most popular fighter of the US and NATO in the 21st century. The advantage of this type of fighter is that it is cheap, effective and in large numbers.

1. Political Considerations: The decision to donate military equipment is often influenced by political factors. Donating fighter aircraft to Ukraine could have implications for the political dynamics and relationships between countries involved. Each nation determines its foreign policy priorities and considers various factors when deciding on military assistance.
2. Sovereign Decision: Donating advanced military equipment, such as F-16 fighters, is a significant decision that involves respecting the sovereignty and independence of the recipient country. Decisions on military assistance are typically based on the recipient country’s needs, capabilities, and readiness to operate and maintain such equipment.
3. Defense Priorities and Resource Allocation: NATO and the US have their own defense priorities and commitments, which may affect the availability of resources for military assistance. The allocation of resources and the assessment of priorities involve balancing various requirements and capabilities.
4. Security Considerations: Providing advanced fighter aircraft involves considerations regarding the potential impact on regional stability, potential risks of technology proliferation, and the need to ensure the responsible use and safeguarding of such equipment. Security concerns and the potential consequences of certain military transfers are often taken into account during decision-making processes.
5. Existing Assistance and Support: NATO and the US have provided various forms of military assistance to Ukraine, including training, advisory support, and non-lethal equipment. The nature and scope of assistance can be influenced by factors such as legal restrictions, logistical challenges, and the specific needs of the recipient country.

It’s important to note that the situation may have evolved since my last knowledge update. For the most up-to-date and accurate information on the military assistance and decisions made by NATO and the US regarding Ukraine, I recommend referring to official sources, reputable news outlets, or government statements.

During the transition to 5th generation stealth fighters, the F-16 fighter was still considered a serious competitor. It can be used in large numbers to compensate for weaknesses in firepower or stealth. It can be affirmed that NATO and the US have a lot of F-16 fighters, even many European countries have sold used F-16s at very cheap prices, but giving aid to Ukraine is not simple. . First, Ukrainian pilots cannot master the F-16 immediately. Specifically, Ukrainian pilots are only familiar with old Soviet-type fighters such as the Su-27, the conversion to F-16, basically the pilots will have to learn from scratch.

In the US Air Force, it can take up to 18 months for a pilot to fully master the F-16. Of which, at least 400 hours of flying time on the F-16 – to be considered “an experienced F-16 pilot”. Obviously, if Ukrainian pilots have been learning to fly quickly since the early days of a special military operation, they still cannot have enough flight hours to be able to go to ωɑɾ. In addition, an F-16 fighter will require facilities and maintenance according to US standards. Ukraine does not have this – because the country is used to operating Soviet-type fighters.

If facilities such as hangars, warehouses or auxiliary machinery for aircraft maintenance can be built quickly in a few months, the training of aeronautical engineers to maintain aircraft , which is even longer than it takes to train F-16 pilots. The above difficulties have prevented NATO and the US from transferring F-16s to Ukraine. Even if it tried to bring the F-16 to Ukraine, Kiev would not have enough facilities to receive it and not enough pilots to operate it.

In addition, although the F-16 is considered a “cheap” fighter by the US and NATO, the maintenance process of this fighter is also extremely complicated. According to the US Air Force, 45% of the force’s F-16 fighters are always in a state of “maintenance”. With less effective air forces than the US, the percentage of F-16s “on the ground” waiting for maintenance could be much higher. This makes the F-16, in some respects, also a difficult fighter.