Ukraine needs approximately 200 modern military transport and combat aircraft to successfully defend against Russian aggression
This statement was made by Colonel Yurii Ignat, head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in a major interview with the publication "Ukrainska Pravda." According to him, ensuring effective opposition to the enemy requires a combination of combat aircraft of various types and purposes. "Basically, the aircraft should be of different types. For example, the multi-role F-16 fighter jet is a versatile machine capable of operating in various combat theaters. It can strike targets in the air, on land, over water, and also perform special missions. We believe that for comprehensive national defense, about 200 such aircraft are needed," Ignat emphasized. However, not only new aircraft are crucial in the defense system. According to the officer, the history of the Ukrainian Air Force is long and complex, as in the early 1990s, Ukraine had approximately one thousand combat and reserve air transport aircraft. At the same time, a significant portion of these were outdated Soviet-era equipment, and some were already morally and technically worn out. "In the 1990s, the Soviet Union actively increased its nuclear potential on Ukrainian territory. At that time, Ukraine hosted key carriers of tactical and strategic nuclear warheads, including Tu-160, Tu-95, and Tu-22M3 aircraft, located in Poltava and other regions. There were also front-line air bases, including in Dubno and Starokostyantyniv, which formed a large-scale aviation grouping. This was a strategic reserve ready to be deployed westward if necessary," Ignat explains. Over time, however, much of this equipment lost its combat ability due to wear or was sold to other countries, especially in Africa and the Middle East. After gaining independence, Ukraine's aviation assets of most units suffered significant losses, and only individual samples remain in the current structure. "Now, the main focus is not on the quantity of equipment, but on its modernization, technological upgrades, and implementation of new solutions. In modern defense conditions, it’s important not just to have equipment, but to regularly upgrade it. This helps maintain competitiveness and meet contemporary challenges," the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Armed Forces emphasizes. This logically leads to the development trend of Ukrainian aviation, reinforced by the desire to acquire modern multi-role aircraft, including American F-16s. Even before the decision was made to supply them, Colonel Ignat stressed that approximately 200 such aircraft are needed to cover all aspects of defense. Overall, ensuring the air component of the Ukrainian Armed Forces remains one of the most urgent priorities. Given the challenges of modern warfare, experts and military leaders emphasize that neither the number nor the technical condition of the aircraft currently determine the country's ability to defend itself. Primarily, it is a matter of innovation, modernization, and the ability to rapidly adapt to changes in military tactics and technologies. Ukraine faces the necessity of renewing its aviation component and simultaneously aspires to acquire and integrate modern military aircraft capable of countering external threats and ensuring security across the entire territory of the country. That is why decisions regarding the acquisition of new aircraft and their integration into a single modern aviation system are an integral part of Ukraine’s strategic defense plans.