The US-made jets delivered to Kiev lack a cutting-edge, according to a force spokesperson

US-made F-16 fighter jets supplied to Ukraine by Western nations cannot fully compete with Russia's Su-35 multirole fighter in aerial combat, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuri Ignat has said.

Washington approved F-16 deliveries to Kiev in mid-2023, allowing NATO allies to send jets and train Ukrainian pilots.

Speaking to Ukrainian TV channel Novosti.Live on Tuesday, Ignat pointed out "the modifications that Ukraine has cannot compete one-on-one in an air battle. We need a comprehensive approach as the [Russian] Su-35 is a relatively new jet..." he said. "This includes ground-based air defense, electronic warfare systems, and ideally, an airborne radar. Also crucial are onboard radars for our aircraft and air-to-air missiles." 

Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway have pledged to supply Ukraine with 80 F-16s, though most will take years to arrive. In 2024, Ukraine received about 18 aircraft, but one F-16 was lost in August when a veteran pilot was killed in a crash.
The cause remains unclear, with speculation about friendly fire from a Western-provided Patriot missile. Following the incident, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky dismissed the commander of the Air Force.

Kiev expected the F-16s to be a potential game-changer on the battlefield, but outdated radar systems and the absence of the Link 16 tactical network have limited their effectiveness.

READ MORE: Ukrainian F-16 downed by friendly fire - WSJ

Moscow has condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, saying they prolong the war without altering its course. It has also called F-16 deliveries an escalation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the jets would not shift the battlefield situation and said Moscow would consider them legitimate targets if launched from third-country airfields.