(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — American-made F-16 fighter jets supplied to Ukraine will be destroyed by Russia’s Sukhoi Su-35 fighters, according to the country’s defense conglomerate, Rostec.
The F-16s, developed by Lockheed Martin, are not capable of competing with the Su-35.
“If you look at the specifications of the American-made fighter jets, they are not competitors to the Su-35,” Rostec stated.
“In a direct confrontation, our Su-35s are superior to the F-16s. The F-16 is not a new aircraft, but that is no reason to be complacent.”
“The F-16 can carry advanced missiles and can cause significant problems. However, like other Western defense systems, it will face the same fate – destruction,” Rostec added.
On August 4, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine had received its first batch of F-16 fighter jets from its Western allies.
However, he did not disclose the number of F-16s received or their locations.
Previous media reports indicated that Ukraine had received ten F-16s so far, with the total expected to rise to 20 by the end of the year.
Ukraine is projected to receive up to 79 F-16s by next year from various European countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway, which are phasing out the aircraft after acquiring fifth-generation F-35 fighters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the delivery of Western weapons, including the F-16s, to Ukraine would not change the situation on the battlefield but would prolong the war in Ukraine.
He also said that American-made fighter jets operated by Ukraine would be “destroyed” like other Western-supplied weapon systems.
The anticipated “clash” between the F-16 and the Su-35 is seen as a confrontation between old and new.
The F-16s received by Ukraine were designed in the 1970s, though they have been upgraded several times over their service life.
The Su-35, on the other hand, made its combat debut in 2016 during Russia’s military campaign in Syria.
The war in Ukraine marks a significant debut for the Su-35 in facing modern fighter jets and air defense systems.
Comparing the F-16 to the Su-35 is not straightforward.
The F-16 is a fourth-generation fighter that entered service in the late 1970s alongside the F-15, Su-27, and MiG-29, while the Su-35 is a 4.5-generation fighter, upgraded from fourth-generation aircraft like the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale, and MiG-35.
The F-16s supplied to Ukraine from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway are early variants, specifically the F-16A/B or F-16MLU (Mid-Life Upgrade) models from the Cold War era.
Logically, the Su-35, which is 50 percent larger than the F-16, is a more capable and superior aircraft compared to the American-made fighter. — DSA