Russia and Ukraine
Kiev is close to obtaining American “F-16” fighters from a third party country … and Russia threatens the West with a path full of dangers
Al Arabiya.net, agencies
Published in: May 20, 2023: 03:48 PM GST
Last updated: May 20, 2023: 04:56 PM GST
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, on Saturday, that his country had begun the stage of acute confrontation with NATO and America, stressing that “what is happening around Ukraine is accelerating the transition to a multipolar world.”
Lavrov added that the West’s hatred against the Russians appears clearly with the actions of politicians, noting that the decisions of the Seven Summits are destined to deter Moscow and Beijing.
The Russian Foreign Minister indicated by saying: “We notice the great pressures of the West on our friends to take positions towards Russia… The Anglo-Saxons control Europe and a number of Southeast Asian countries.”
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned that Western countries are taking a path full of dangers, in response to reports of the West’s intention to provide “F-16” fighters to Ukraine.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said that this step carries huge risks and is drawn into a global conflict.
American fighter “F-16”
Britain plans to build an “international coalition” to help Ukraine obtain F-16 fighter jets, and the US fighter jet is seen as an important deterrent to Russia.
Western weapons have always played an important role in transforming the battlefield in Ukraine, but there are weapons that Kiev needed great and long pressure to obtain.
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Features and capabilities of the “F-16” fighter
It is noteworthy that the F-16 fighter, or “Falcon Striker”, is a hypersonic combat aircraft that is ideal for carrying out “air-to-air” and “air-to-ground” attacks. This fighter has the ability to fly at different altitudes, and can fly for more than 860 km before returning to its base, with an acceleration of 9 G, that is, nine times the force of gravity, which exceeds the capabilities of combat aircraft. It is also able to accurately monitor its targets in all weather conditions, as it detects low-flying aircraft, and can accurately hit its targets, and defend itself against enemy aircraft. The cockpit provides the pilot with a vision free of any blind spots, and the aircraft is equipped with advanced geographic positioning systems, air navigation systems, guidance information for the pilot, and advanced radio communication systems.
In a major shift in Western support for Kiev, US President Joe Biden has shown willingness to allow other countries to supply Ukraine with highly demanded F-16 fighters, in a decision Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described as “historic”.
A senior White House official said that the US president, who is participating in the G7 summit in Japan, assured his interlocutors of his “support for a joint initiative aimed at training Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation combat aircraft, including F-16 fighters.”
Biden, who manages the Western response to Russia, is facing increasing pressure to allow the sending of American fighters from the “Lockheed Martin” industry to Ukraine, not by the United States, but by other countries that own them.
The delivery of these aircraft through other countries is subject to prior approval from Washington, specifically permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to protect US military technology.
“During the period in which the training will take place in the coming months, the coalition of countries participating in this effort will decide when and how many aircraft to provide and by whom,” the official said.
Upon his arrival in Hiroshima for the G7 summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would meet Biden in Hiroshima to discuss the “practical implementation” of the plan.
