Zelensky: Age of F-16s limits their use due to frequent repairs

Technical condition issues with fighters

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukrainian F-16 fighters require constant repairs. This limits their combat use.

According to the head of state, the aircraft transferred to Ukraine are no longer new, therefore they require regular technical maintenance. As a result, restrictions are imposed on their use.

Necessity to increase the air fleet

Zelensky emphasised that Ukraine needs two and a half times more aircraft in the air than are currently deployed.

«Дуже просимо і літаки F-16. Є ліміти щодо використання, тому що літаки не нові. На сьогодні нам потрібно в два з половиною рази більше літаків одночасно в небі, ніж та кількість, яку ми застосовуємо. Тобто у нас на папері все це є, але вони постійно на ремонті, тому що F-16 не молоді. Над цим питанням потрібно і з американцями теж працювати – займаємося цим» (We are strongly requesting F-16 aircraft as well. There are limits on their use because the planes are not new. Today we need two and a half times more aircraft in the sky simultaneously than the number we are using. So, on paper, we have all of this, but they are constantly under repair because the F-16s are not young. We need to work on this issue with the Americans too – we are doing so), the president emphasised.

Shortage of cannon ammunition

In addition, according to the president, there is a shortage of ammunition for aircraft cannons. Meanwhile, F-16s remain one of the key means of combating Iranian "Shahed" suicide drones.