The lines continue to shift on the front line of arms deliveries to Ukraine. After the tanks and long-range missiles promised by London, Kiev never seems to have been closer to getting US F-16 fighter jets.

The United Kingdom said on Tuesday (May 16th) that it wanted to build an "international coalition" to help Ukraine obtain these fighter jets, said Downing Street after a meeting between British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte.

The British Army does not itself use F-16s but its successor, the F-35 Lightning II, as well as Eurofighter Typhoons. On the other hand, the Netherlands is ready to part with some of its F-16 "Fighting Falcons".

At the end of January, the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin had also indicated that it was able to quickly supply these aircraft that Ukraine has been clamouring for months for their high availability and versatility.

Handyman

Designed in the 70s by General Dynamics, the F-16 is the most widespread combat aircraft in the world, with 4,500 copies manufactured, and remains one of the most exported models in recent years. In service in 25 countries, this single-engine engine, which measures 15 meters long and has a wingspan of nearly 10 meters, seduces Washington's allies for its liveliness and great maneuverability.

During its long career, this bestseller has undergone many evolutions. If it was originally imagined for air combat, it is now able to do almost anything. It can be used both to defend airspace and to act as a tactical bomber.

" READ ALSO Depleted uranium shells, ammunition as useful as controversial

"Gradually, it has become more versatile up to the most modern versions like the Block-52 recently sold to Poland. However, if F-16s are transferred to Ukraine, it will certainly not be the latest generations but rather older versions from the stocks of the Belgian, Dutch Danish or Norwegian armies," said Marc Chassillan, a consultant in the field of defense.

According to Kiev, the F-16 would represent a huge asset for its air force, which since the beginning of the conflict can only rely on aging and few Soviet MiG-29s and Su-27s. According to the military analysis site Global firepower, Ukraine has 187 aircraft in service, including 41 fighters, ten times less than Russia.

"Caged birds"

But to obtain these precious fighter jets, Ukraine will still have to wait for the green light from the White House, which refuses to offer air assets to Kiev for fear of an escalation of the conflict.

"The issue revolves around crossing the Russian border. The raison d'être of a combat aircraft is to bring fire to the enemy. However, there is a political obstacle here," says Marc Chassilan. "Not to cross the Russian border would be to make very limited use of this type of weaponry. Flying F-16s only in Ukrainian skies would be like putting birds in cages," the military expert said.

Asked again Monday about the possibility of supplying US F-16s to Ukraine, John Kirby, the spokesman for the National Security Council at the White House, reaffirmed Washington's opposition, which seems to want to maintain a defensive strategy in the Ukrainian sky.

Kiev may not have control of the air, but it has many air defense systems that deter Russian aviation from conducting operations beyond the front line.

" READ ALSO The tanks "killers of drones" soon run out of ammunition because of Switzerland?

"However, the stockpiles of anti-aircraft missiles are starting to run out dangerously because Ukraine is consuming them very much. At some point, the F-16 could take over to make up for a temporary or local deficiency. It is an aircraft perfectly capable of shooting down a cruise missile," explains Marc Chassillan.

An expensive supply chain

Pressure has been mounting in recent weeks on the Biden administration. Democratic and Republican elected officials called on the US government at the end of April to validate the delivery of F-16 but also to provide long-range missiles. A step taken by the United Kingdom which would have begun to send Kiev "Storm shadow" missiles.

In addition, several countries have recently opened the door to deliveries of Western fighter jets. Training of Ukrainian pilots will begin in France President Emmanuel Macron confirmed Monday during a television interview.

On Wednesday, the British and German defense ministers said it was now up to the White House to decide on a possible delivery to Kiev of F-16 fighter jets.

"We don't have an F-16 and we're not going to deliver Typhoon (aircraft) but we can obviously contribute to training and support, within the limits of the fact that we don't have F-16 pilots," British Minister Ben Wallace said on a visit to Berlin.

But Washington's veto is not the only obstacle to delivering F-16s to Ukraine. It requires not only pilot training but also ground staff and an expensive supply chain.

"We need overhauled and airworthy aircraft, tools, spare parts... There is a whole paraphernalia that goes with the plane and whose availability today is not guaranteed, "explains Marc Chassillan.

"There is also the problem of armaments hanging under the wings. Do Western armies have enough bombs, missiles, shells for cannons? Stocks are not very large. However, without armament, an F-16 has absolutely no value," concludes the expert.

The summary of the week France 24 invites you to look back on the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news with you everywhere! Download the France 24 app