Thread by @Dmojavensis

Second half of my quick notes from an interview w/ UA Air Force head of aviation Gen. Serhii Holubtsov (). For the notes on the first half of the interview see linked thread.

The second half was mostly about F-16s and a little bit about JAS 39 Gripen.
🧵

https://twitter.com/Dmojavensis/status/1799847729495265456

F-16
Munitions:
- all airplanes will have improved "sight" (in Ukrainian usually that mean improved radar - no further details given), will [also] have pods for ground attack targeting

- Gen. Holubtsov won't give away technical details on air-to-air munitions or the radar modifications, but mentions "AIM-120 is used [on these airplanes] and its combat range, let's say according to 'some data', is up to 180+ km"

On the effect that F-16 may have in UA:

- In last year's interview Gen. Holubtsov said "3-4 squadrons minimum to make a difference on a specific front segment" ().

https://x.com/Dmojavensis/status/1663060231117770752

- During the last year [mobile] Patriot helped make difference "on a specific front segment" and compensate for the absense of F-16s: after 13 RU aircraft were downed within two weeks they (RU) stopped using guided bombs at Chernihiv and Kherson front segments -->

--> and started hunting for Patriot. Now, together with Patriot, we are expecting a similar effect (either change of RU tactics or complete cessation of aviation use on certain front segments).

- as to the numbers [of F-16s] pilot training is a (the?) bottleneck. Western [fighter] jets are very different in terms of weapon use compared to Soviet jets and thus training takes time.

- This year we will see the effect of F-16s [on the battlefield] and then we will know what to change (or not change).

- Three phases to introduce F-16s in UA: "crawl, walk, run". "At this point we haven't learnt how to crawl - when the a/c arrive to UA we will understand that we can 'crawl'", trying the a/c out deep inside UA in relatively safe [air]space. -->

--> "Then we'll learn to walk, and then to run - achieving air superiority".

English for training:
- very important
- tried training [technical staff?] w/ translators, but ended up sending them to English classes anyway in the end
- technical staff spends about 2-4 months just on English training (if I understood Gen. Holubtsov corectly)

On how many F-16s will arrive to Ukraine:
- not all F-16s will go to straight to Ukraine: some will remain abroad as dedicated trainers for UA pilots, some will be kept abroad as reserve to replace F-16s in UA if they are damaged or -->

--> require servicing [that prevents them from flying for significant time]

- the number of F-16s in UA will be a function of the number of "pilots, engineers, technical staff, and airfields" available

On when and how many F-16s will arrive to UA:

- Gen. Holubtsov won't comment on exact dates other than that this year F-16s are planned to be in UA. "Let RU feel w/ their skin when F-16s are in".

- at least "a flight of jets" will arrive, "at the minimum, but can be more".

F-16 infrastructure and airfield protection:

- can protect against aerodynamic targets (as long as we have AD munitions)

- RU use up to 20 cruise missiles per airfield in a single attack

- need "minimum two Patriot batteries, two NASAMS, plus Gepards" (he didn't specify per what area/etc)

- they [UA Air Force] are most worried that RU won't be sparing Kinzhal and/or Iskander ballistic missiles to target F-16s.

Finally, on JAS 39 Gripen:

- F-16 was offered first, UA is preparing infrastructure for it

- but UA did request JAS 39 in the past, it's not the first priority now [that is obviously F-16 now], but UA is very interested in getting JAS 39 Gripen.

** Please let me know if you find an error/typo/etc or want a more specific quote on one of the notes above.

Thanks!

ADDENDUM: Specific quote on "targeting system", radar, and air-to-air munitions (there seemed to be interest in this). Gen. Holubtsov was clearly deliberately ambiguous and unwilling to dive into specifics, though he provided some. Feel free to interpret his words as you like🔽🧵

Gen. Holubtsov: "I can specifically say that the aircraft [plural] that will be provided have undergone certain modernization, they have an improved 'aiming system' for detection of aerial targets; -->

--> a special pod, that allows searching and targeting ground targets with bombs, will be provided together with the aircraft [..]"

Question from the interviewer: "Talking about air-to-air weapons, [effectively pushing RU aviation away from the front line to prevent them using guided bombs en masse, i.e. working against Su-34/35] will depend on the radar and air-to-air missiles the F-16s will have, [right?]"

Answer (Gen. Holubtsov). "I wouldn't want to disclose the technical details about the target detection range, [talks about how impressed the UA pilots being trained are w/ the ability to detect targets ranging from a UAV to an airplane (range undisclosed)] -->

--> but there [on these airplanes?] AIM-120 w/ combat range, based on let's say 'certain data', of up to 180+ km is employed [continues w/ discussion about the need to use these F-16 capabilities to push RU bombers and fighters away from the front line]"

The above quote is from ~22:13 to ~25:40: