The dire position of Ukraine is becoming even worse as the sweeping prevalence of Russia on the fronts and the destruction of its infrastructure are accompanied by severe inability to return even part of the blows it receives in this war.
It sees the largest part of its F-16 fighter jet fleet being put out of action by the end of 2026, due to massive delays in maintenance operations carried out in Belgium.
More than half of the fighters are trapped in a maintenance deadlock
At the current operational and repair rate, Ukraine may exhaust the remainder of its available F-16 fighters by the end of the year, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The maintenance bottleneck is linked in part to the intensive use of the fighters.
More than half of Ukrainian F-16 jets are currently in what a Western source described to the WSJ as a «maintenance deadlock».
Following approximately 300 flight hours, F-16 fighters require a detailed phase inspection covering engines, electronic systems, hydraulic systems, fuel lines, and other components.
Such inspections generally last from two to six weeks in the United States, but can last up to 40 weeks in Belgium, according to retired US Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery.
Dependence on Western facilities and contractors becomes fatal
Ukraine relies heavily on Western facilities and contractors to keep the fighters operational.
The USA has awarded the Belgian company Sabena Aerospace Engineering a contract worth more than 230 million dollars for the maintenance of Ukrainian F-16 jets, with subcontractors executing some of the work.
Russia unleashes wave of jet drones while aircraft recovery time runs out
Long turnaround times emerge at the same time that Russia increases its use of jet drones.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia deployed approximately 2,000 such drones over Ukraine in September compared to around 350 in June.
These drones are significantly faster than previous generations of Geran type systems, increasing pressure on the fighter fleet of Ukraine and on other air defense systems.
This makes the maintenance problem even more decisive, as the F-16 jets have become a significant part of the response of Ukraine to Russian drone attacks.
Volodymyr Zelensky desperately pushes for new deliveries and urgent munitions
Ukraine is also attempting to increase the number of fighters available to its forces.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on September 29 that Belgium will transfer three additional F-16 jets to Ukraine by the end of the year and that Kyiv was seeking to speed up deliveries.
He also mentioned that Ukraine received urgent deliveries of ammunition for F-16 fighters from Belgium, Spain, and other allies.
Pilots forced to fight with internal guns due to total lack of missiles
Separate reports also highlight shortages in weapons carried by the F-16.
Ukrainian F-16 commanders have reported shortages of AIM-120 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, forcing pilots in some cases to rely on the internal 20 mm cannons of the fighters against Russian drones.
The shortages were reported in early September and were described by Ukrainian officers as a factor affecting the number of missiles that can be used during combat missions.
Kyiv seeks tens of thousands of rounds to counter the threat
Ukraine is now seeking additional ammunition for the F-16 as well.
It was reported on September 30 that Kyiv was attempting to purchase tens of thousands of 20 mm rounds for the fighters, with the ammunition intended in part for use against Russian jet drones.
Combination of shortages and delays strangles the air power of the country
The combination of maintenance delays, limited spare parts and servicing capacity, as well as rising demand for the F-16, consequently exerts pressure on both the size and the availability of the fighter fleet of Ukraine.
Even with the additional F-16 fighters expected from Belgium, the number of fighters that Kyiv can actually maintain in service will depend on whether its Western backers can significantly reduce maintenance times and sustain supplies of ammunition and weapons required for combat operations.
Western support collapses with no visible solution on the horizon
Overall, the latest data shed light on yet another problem facing Ukrainian forces, with no clear solution on the horizon.
One thing becomes increasingly clear:
Western support for Kyiv is shrinking.
www.bankingnews.gr
Readers’ Comments