The Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force explains what weapons are needed for no-fly zone over Ukraine
VALENTYNA ROMANENKO — THURSDAY, 28 APRIL 2022, 12:44
The Ukrainian Air Force needs modern medium-range and long-range anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as modern fighter aircraft against Russian planes that are bombing Ukrainian cities.
Source: Video address of the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk
Quote: "We are grateful to the whole world for humanitarian, political and financial support, sanctions pressure on the terrorist state and military-technical assistance - weapons that are already destroying the equipment of the occupiers. But these weapons are not enough to win!
We have beaten, are beating, and will be beating the enemy with the equipment we have. But it is not enough for the Air Force to cover the skies over Ukraine with Stinger and Starstreak air defence systems provided by its partners."
Details: The Stinger and the Starstreak are portable short-range systems, primarily designed to destroy low-altitude targets such as helicopters.
Oleshchuk explained that the Ukrainian military can’t shoot down the planes of the Russian occupiers, who are currently dropping bombs on Ukrainian cities from 8 kilometres and more.
Doing so requires modern medium-range and long-range anti-aircraft missile systems, which can effectively cover the skies (such as the American Patriot SAM or Norwegian-American mobile anti-aircraft missile system "NASAMS").
As well, modern fighter jets that can cover the skies are needed for the country’s air defence system.
Colonel Yurii Bulavka said earlier that the American F-16 "Falcon", F-15, and maybe F-18 would be enough to give the advantage to the Ukrainian forces. These aircraft have powerful on-board radar, technological equipment and, most importantly, self-guided missiles.
He explained that the Ukrainian military has an action plan to retrain pilots and aviation engineers as soon as possible.
The commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasises: "We would like to receive (under any conditions) Western-made equipment that is technological and effective. The war will not end soon, we need weapons today."
