An Su-35

Boyko Nikolov – BulgarianMilitary.com March 11, 2025

Yuriy Ignat, a former spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force Command, made a striking statement about the country’s newly acquired F-16 fighter jets. Speaking to Ukrainian media, Ignat said the planes, provided by Western partners, are not modern enough to compete effectively with Russia’s Su-35 aircraft in one-on-one air combat.

His comments, which surfaced in the early hours of the day in Ukraine, quickly rippled across news outlets and social media, raising questions about the capabilities of the jets now in Kyiv’s possession.

Ignat’s remarks come at a critical time in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, where air superiority remains a key factor, and they shine a spotlight on the challenges Ukraine faces as it integrates these long-awaited aircraft into its military strategy.

The statement has sparked discussions about the age and condition of the donated F-16s, the expectations placed on them, and how they measure up against Russia’s advanced fighters.

Ignat’s perspective is rooted in his extensive experience with Ukraine’s air forces, having served as a public voice for the military branch until recently. He emphasized that the F-16s delivered to Ukraine are older models, lacking the cutting-edge technology needed to match the Su-35, a Russian jet known for its agility and advanced weaponry.

His comments reflect a broader concern within Ukraine about the pace and quality of military aid from its allies, especially as the conflict drags into its third year with no end in sight.

Ukraine’s acquisition of F-16s has been a gradual process, marked by months of negotiations and logistical hurdles. By early 2025, the country had received a modest number of these jets from Western partners, including the Netherlands, Denmark, and possibly the United States.

Reports suggest that around 20 F-16s have been delivered so far, though exact figures remain murky due to security concerns and varying statements from officials. The Netherlands pledged 24 of the jets in 2023, with deliveries beginning in mid-2024, while Denmark committed to 19, some of which have already arrived.

The U.S. has played a role in training Ukrainian pilots and providing support, though it’s unclear if any American F-16s have been directly transferred. Looking ahead, Ukraine hopes to secure more—potentially up to 80 jets—over the long term, according to earlier estimates from its air force.

These numbers, however, depend on the willingness of NATO countries to part with additional aircraft and the time it takes to prepare them for combat.

The arrival of these jets was initially hailed as a game-changer, a symbol of Western commitment to Ukraine’s defense. Yet Ignat’s critique underscores a reality that Kyiv has faced repeatedly: the equipment it receives often comes with limitations.

Many of the F-16s are older variants, retired from service in donor countries and refurbished for use in Ukraine. While functional, they lack the upgrades found in newer models operated by NATO air forces today.

Ukraine has been vocal about needing at least 128 fighter jets to fully modernize its air fleet, a goal that remains distant given the current trickle of deliveries. For now, the focus is on making the most of what’s available, even as officials like Ignat highlight the challenges ahead.

From the Russian side, confidence in the Su-35’s ability to counter Ukraine’s F-16s predates their arrival on the battlefield. As early as 2023, when talks of supplying Kyiv with Western jets gained traction, Russian military analysts and state media expressed optimism about their aircraft’s superiority.

The Su-35, a mainstay of Russia’s air force, is a fourth-generation fighter with enhancements that give it an edge in maneuverability and firepower. Russian commentators have pointed to its advanced radar systems, long-range missiles, and thrust-vectoring engines—features that allow it to outmaneuver opponents in dogfights.

They’ve also argued that the F-16s likely to reach Ukraine would be older models, a prediction that Ignat’s statement now seems to confirm. This belief has fueled Moscow’s narrative that Western aid, while significant, won’t tip the scales decisively in Ukraine’s favor.

Russian officials have also emphasized their air force’s combat experience, gained over years of operations in Syria and now in Ukraine. The Su-35 has been a key player in Russia’s campaign, used to strike ground targets and assert control over contested airspace.

Military experts in Russia have claimed that even with F-16s, Ukraine would struggle to challenge this dominance, given the disparity in pilot training and the sheer number of aircraft Moscow can deploy. While these assertions carry a dose of propaganda, they reflect a calculated confidence in the Su-35’s capabilities—a confidence that Ukraine’s current fleet must now contend with on the battlefield.

So how is Ukraine actually using its F-16s? Since the first jets arrived in 2024, they’ve been deployed primarily for defensive missions, such as intercepting Russian drones and cruise missiles.

A notable success came in January 2025, when a Ukrainian pilot reportedly downed six cruise missiles in a single sortie, showcasing the aircraft’s potential against certain threats. However, their role in direct air-to-air combat appears limited. Ignat’s comments suggest that Ukraine avoids pitting them against Su-35s one-on-one, likely due to the risks involved.

Instead, the jets are being used cautiously, often staying behind the front lines to protect cities and infrastructure from missile attacks. This approach reflects both their value as a scarce resource and the constraints imposed by their capabilities.

One major limitation is the lack of advanced weaponry. The F-16s delivered to Ukraine are reportedly equipped with older missile systems, such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM, but not the latest versions that could extend their reach or accuracy.

Without long-range munitions, Ukrainian pilots must get closer to their targets—Russian jets included—than their Su-35 counterparts, who can engage from a safer distance. Additionally, the jets’ radar and electronic warfare systems may not match the sophistication of Russia’s, further tilting the odds in Moscow’s favor.

Training is another hurdle; while Ukrainian pilots have undergone intensive programs in the U.S. and Europe, they’re still adapting to a platform vastly different from the Soviet-era MiGs and Sukhois they’ve flown for decades.

Analysts at BulgarianMilitary.com have weighed in on this dynamic, noting that Ukraine’s F-16s are being stretched thin across multiple roles—air defense, ground support, and occasional strikes—without the numbers or equipment to excel in any one area.

The site suggests that Kyiv’s strategy prioritizes survival over confrontation, preserving the jets for high-impact missions rather than risking them in aerial duels with Russia’s more numerous and advanced fighters. This cautious approach, while practical, limits the F-16s’ ability to shift the air war’s momentum, reinforcing Ignat’s point about their competitive shortcomings.

When it comes to why the Su-35 holds an advantage, the comparison reveals stark differences. The Su-35, introduced in the early 2000s and upgraded since boasts a top speed of around 1,500 miles per hour and a combat radius exceeding 900 miles. Its Irbis-E radar can track multiple targets at long range, while its arsenal includes the R-77 missile, capable of striking aircraft over 60 miles away.

The jet’s supermaneuverability, enabled by thrust-vectoring engines, allows it to perform tight turns and evade incoming threats with ease. By contrast, Ukraine’s F-16s—likely A/B or early C/D variants from the 1980s or 1990s—top out at about 1,300 miles per hour and rely on less powerful radar systems.

Their maneuverability is solid but lacks the Su-35’s acrobatic flair, and their weapons range is shorter, putting pilots in a reactive rather than proactive position during engagements.

The Su-35’s edge isn’t just technical; it’s numerical. Russia operates over 100 of these jets, dwarfing Ukraine’s handful of F-16s. This disparity means Ukrainian pilots could face multiple adversaries at once, a scenario where even a modern F-16 might struggle.

Maintenance and logistics also favor Russia, which has a domestic supply chain for parts and repairs, while Ukraine depends on foreign support that can be slow to arrive. These factors combine to create a daunting challenge for Kyiv, one that Ignat’s statement lays bare with unflinching clarity.

What, then, are Ukraine’s F-16s? Most are believed to be F-16A/B models, originally built in the 1970s and 1980s, with some upgraded to the “Mid-Life Update” standard in the 1990s. These jets feature the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine, a single-seat or dual-seat cockpit, and a radar system like the APG-66, adequate for its time but dated by today’s standards.

Some may have received newer avionics or targeting pods during refurbishment, but none appear to carry the AESA radar or stealth features of modern F-16Vs operated by NATO.

Their weaponry includes short-range Sidewinders for close combat and AMRAAMs for beyond-visual-range shots, though the missile variants are likely older, with ranges of 20 to 50 miles—half that of Russia’s R-77.

Defensive systems, such as chaff and flares, are standard, but electronic countermeasures may not fully counter the Su-35’s sensors.

As of March 11, 2025, Ignat’s words linger as a sobering reminder of Ukraine’s uphill battle. The F-16s have bolstered its defenses, with pilots like Vadim Voroshilov—calling “Karaya”—praising their role in protecting cities. Yet the dream of air parity with Russia remains elusive.

Deliveries continue, with Denmark and the Netherlands promising more jets in the coming months, and training programs expanding to prepare additional crews. Whether these efforts will close the gap—or prompt allies to supply newer models—remains an open question, one that will shape the skies over Ukraine for months to come.

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