Ukraine’s newly acquired F-16 fighters are now actively engaging Russian forces along the 800-mile front line, armed with air-to-air missiles, precision glide bombs, and radar jammers. The jets, supplied by Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium, offer superior capabilities compared to Ukraine’s Soviet-era aircraft, including the AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures (ECM) pod. A U.S. Air Force official highlighted the ECM pod’s strategic impact, stating it can create “a pocket of air superiority” to achieve mission-critical objectives. Despite these enhancements, Ukraine remains dependent on U.S. programming support for the ECM systems. The F-16s mark a significant step in modernizing Ukraine’s air force and countering Russian aerial threats.
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