Vipers for the Viper God!

Ukraine has gotten its hands on F-16s:

The first job of the Vipers will involve air defense, primarily hunting drones and cruise missiles launched as part of Russia’s strategic bombing campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure. The F-16s have surveillance capabilities that exceed those of existing Ukrainian fighters and will carry NATO-standard missiles, representing a significant improvement on post-Soviet stock.

Carrying AIM-120 AMRAAMs, the F-16s will also be able to threaten Russian aircraft operating near the front. Over the past several months Russian fighter-bombers have successfully engaged in a campaign of “glide bombing,” launching guided munitions on a glide path from ranges of up to 60km. AMRAAMs can outdistance that, probably not ending the practice but certainly giving Russian pilots more to think about as they approach launch points.

F-16s can also carry Storm Shadow missiles, which depending on political restrictions can strike targets deep behind the front lines. In the longer term, Ukrainian pilots can take advantage of the characteristics of the F-16 to conduct close air support missions and especially suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) operations to inflict damage directly upon Russian ground formation.

Some other links:

• Might possibly give some thought to reading The Peacock and the Sparrow…
• Integrating shipbuilding efforts with foreign shipyards is actually an incredibly good idea... which will probably never happen.
• Silicon Valley military contractors LOVE JD Vance.
• Impact of Labour’s win on UK defence policy?
• Sending A-10s to Jordan is a weird idea…
• Absolutely crazy how dependent Russia is becoming on North Korea.