Ukraine may acquire F-16 fighter jets, and it is already a matter of the relatively short-term perspective, along with missiles with a range of 300-500 km.
"In the upcoming military aid packages, Ukraine expects to receive F-16 aircraft and missiles with a range of 300–500 kilometers, enabling the Armed Forces of Ukraine to achieve even greater success on the battlefield and liberate our territory from the enemy," as Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev, the Commander of the Joint Forces stated.
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From Defense Express, it should be noted that the phrase 'expects to receive F-16 aircraft and missiles' does not necessarily imply that Ukraine is expecting F-16 aircraft equipped with missiles having a range of 300-500 kilometers.
Because it is entirely possible that we are talking about two separate things - fighter jets and missiles, which could be ballistic ATACMS with a range of 300 km. Or indeed, to be air-launched cruise missiles, but of the conventional type like Storm Shadow/SCALP.
But, of course, there is, at the same time, a quite plausible option that it refers to missiles for the F-16. Considering the stated range, the only known option remains the AGM-158 JASSM.
This missile is conceptually similar to Storm Shadow, being a tactical cruise missile made using stealth technology. Moreover, it is quite widespread, in serial production, and available for export.
Briefly about the missile's key specifications:
- range – 230 mi / 370 km for JASSM or 575 mi / 926 km for JASSM-ER (Extended Range) versions;
- warhead – WDU-42/B (J-1000) penetrating, blast-fragmentation; 1,000 lb / 450 kg
In the context of JASSM worth noting that the US is also planning to launch production of a modernized AGM-158 JASSM-XR variant which has a range of 1,900 km and a 910-kg warhead.
In the end, Ukraine obtaining AGM-158A JASSM or AGM-158B JASSM-ER is actually quite a realistic possibility. Both missiles are integrated into the F-16 and are not objectively extremely scarce. Moreover, in 2023, Lockheed Martin planned to ramp up the production to 1000 JASSM missiles and its anti-ship version LRASM per year.
All photos: US DoD
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