The spokesman of the Air Force of Ukraine Yuriy Ignat said that Ukraine needs several years to completely close the sky.
He announced this in the joint projects "Conversations of the Important", "Breakfast with 1+1" and TSN.ua.
"The territory of Ukraine is extremely large. The President of Ukraine previously announced that we
can cover only 10%.
Blocking the sky with the air defense means that are in service -
the Buk M1 and S-300 air defense systems - is
currently impossible. This medium-range anti-aircraft missile complexes. These are 40 km - "Buk" and 70 km - "S-300". To deploy them to cover the entire territory, unfortunately, it is not possible now,
because there are not so many fire weapons.
Therefore, today those directions overlap fighter aircraft, where there are fewer air defense assets. Mobile groups with MANPADS have also been created. Significantly more assets are needed. It will take years to completely cover the entire sky.
We cannot cover such a large area at once.
If there are Western-made planes, that will help significantly, but it will take a significant amount of time for them to come to us as well," he said.
Ignat emphasized that the Air Force needs air defense equipment not only of medium range, but also of long range.
In particular, the dream is
Patriot complexes,
which can also work on ballistic missiles.
When the F-15 or F-16 fighters may appear in the Armed Forces
F-16 and F-15 fighters can significantly change the course of the war and greatly improve the situation on the battlefield for Ukraine.
This was previously stated by military expert Petro Chernyk.
Ukraine will be able to receive F-16 aircraft in two to three years after the political decision on their supply is made.
Such a statement was made by the commander of the US Air Force in Europe and Africa, General James Hecker.
He explained that everything is due to difficulties: training and logistical issues.
At the same time, military expert Oleg Zhdanov believes that American F-15 or F-16 fighters may appear in the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine already in winter.
He also added that Ukrainian pilots are undergoing training to fly American fighter jets.
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