The US has partially halted support for the F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine. This could deprive the Air Force of crucial air defense capabilities, according to
Forbes.
According to the publication, the US cannot simply "turn off" the F-16 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. However, the US has suspended critical support for the radar systems on the F-16s currently in Ukraine.
"That could deprive the Ukrainian air force of its most important aerial countermeasures at a critical moment in Russia’s three-year wider war on Ukraine. But the Ukrainians aren’t powerless—and they still have allies," Forbes writes.
The publication notes that Ukraine may replace the F-16s with Mirage 2000 fighter jets, which they are receiving from France.
Analyst David Axe points out that Ukrainian forces are indeed in a difficult position following Trump’s decision, but it is not without hope. In his opinion, the Ukrainian Armed Forces should focus on the French Mirage 2000 fighter jets.
The French Ministry of Defense has promised to install new electronic warfare systems on the Mirage 2000 jets before they are delivered to Ukraine. It is likely that the system in question is the analog Integrated Countermeasures Suite Mark 2 or the fully digital Integrated Countermeasures Suite Mark 3.
