MWM: Russian Su-35s force Ukraine’s new F-16s and Mirages to operate low and far to avoid targeting

Operations by Russian Aerospace Forces Su-35 air superiority fighters have forced the Ukrainian Air Force’s newly delivered F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighters to operate exclusively at low altitudes in airspace far behind the frontlines, according to recent reports, ‘Military Watch Magazine’ states.

Flying low and far from Russian forces minimises the possibility of targeting, but limits the kinds of support Ukrainian aircraft can provide for their forces. Commenting on how the Su-35’s presence in the theatre has allegedly shaped Ukrainian fighter operations, Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov reported: “The Su-35S has driven enemy aircraft low, forcing them to fly at minimal altitudes and in rear areas. Meanwhile, the Su-35S engages targets at distances of hundreds of kilometres. That is why enemy aircraft cannot approach the frontlines to launch air-to-air missiles. This includes American F-16s and French-made Mirages.”

Ukrainian sources have consistently warned that new Western-supplied F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighters are wholly incapable of matching the capabilities of advanced Russian fighters such as the Su-35. Highlighting the much more powerful sensor suites carried by Russian combat jets, and their much longer air-to-air engagement ranges, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat observed on June 3: "Unfortunately, today Russia has jets that see farther and missiles that fly farther. That’s even when compared to F-16s. They also have powerful air defences, which work in tandem with aviation.”

The fighter’s air-to-air capabilities have been overshadowed by those of the MiG-31BM interceptor and Su-57 fifth generation fighter which have also been involved in air-to-air engagements, and which carry significantly more powerful sensor suites and have flight characteristics better suited to beyond visual range missile exchanges. A further factor has been Russia’s vast network of advanced surface-to-air missile system, such as the S-400, which are capable of shooting down targets at ranges of up to 400 kilometres.

These assets between them, combined with operations by fighters such as the Su-35 an Su-30SM, are likely to have all contributed to seriously limiting Ukraine’s ability to use its fleet of largely obsolete fighters.

read more in our Telegram-channel https://t.me/The_International_Affairs