Comments by "Tim Trewyn" (@timtrewyn453) on "Russia's Civil War Has Started" video.

  1. Some F-16s can be equipped with avionics that compare to the F-35 in the ability to locate enemy artillery batteries and quickly convey targeting information to allied weapons platforms. Russia's touted artillery advantage would be steadily eroded if enough F-16s with this capability were operating 24/7 near the battlespace. The MIG-31 and its long-range AA missiles are a serious threat to F-16s, as well as Russian S-300 and S-400 AD systems. The US has been aware of this environment and has developed countermeasures for use by the F-16, but the F-35 was the more effective answer. How much of those countermeasures will be shared with Ukraine remains to be seen. The F-16 in and of itself may be better at evading Russian AD than the MIG-29, but Wild Weasel operations against more advanced Iraqi (Russian) AD in that war were high anxiety events. Long run deterrence of Russia will require Ukraine to have F-35 and even 6th generation aircraft. Might as well get started on the F-35 training of Ukrainian pilots. The USAF has a reported shortage of fighter pilots (Air and Space Magazine).
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