In a recent interview with Radio Liberty, Brigadier General Serhiy Holubtsov, Ukrainian Air Force Chief of Aviation, disclosed that Ukraine's forthcoming fleet of F-16 fighter aircraft would be safeguarded from potential Kremlin attacks by locating some of the combat planes in third-party countries. He stated that these countries, which are unlikely to be targeted by Russia, would serve as secure air bases where the aircraft can be stored and maintained.

Holubtsov explained that this strategic decision aims to ensure the availability of a certain number of operational aircraft at all times, corresponding to the number of trained pilots. By keeping a reserve of F-16s in secure locations, Ukraine can quickly replace any faulty planes during routine maintenance or operational requirements.

The Ukrainian military analysts have predicted a small-scale deployment of four to six F-16s initially, only for low-risk missions. The most likely NATO facilities to support these Ukrainian jets are expected to be in Poland for maintenance and Romania for operational purposes.

Holubtsov's remarks come in the wake of the Kremlin's warning that any NATO personnel assisting Kyiv in attacking Russia would be considered legitimate targets. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized this stance, stating that the Ukrainian F-16s would be targeted if used to attack the Russian Federation.

The initial combat operations of the F-16s will be limited and cautious, primarily focused on understanding the capabilities of the aircraft and avoiding unnecessary risks for the inexperienced air and ground crew. Flight operations will be conducted in airspace far from possible Russian intercepts.

Holubtsov highlighted that the main role of the Ukrainian F-16s in air defense would be to complement the national air defense network, working in tandem with ground-based systems like the powerful US-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile. This combination aims to safeguard Ukrainian airspace and hamper Russian air operations in certain locations.

Furthermore, Holubtsov mentioned that the Ukrainian F-16s would be armed with the AIM-120 missile, which has a range of over 180 km. He expressed confidence that Ukrainian pilots would be able to identify and engage Russian aircraft or drones effectively.

The deployment of F-16s for ground strikes is also being planned. Holubtsov explained that the use of NATO-standard cruise missiles integrated with the F-16's electronics would significantly enhance the effectiveness of such operations. In contrast to previous attempts with Soviet-era aircraft, the F-16s would allow airborne re-tasking and the ability to engage mobile ground targets.

While Ukraine is set to receive 60 F-16 jets this summer, training bottlenecks and shortages of pilots and maintainers may limit the country's operational capacity. Holubtsov acknowledged the limited number of F-16-qualified pilots and training slots as the main obstacles to deploying more than a few F-16s in the coming months.

English language proficiency was also identified as an additional challenge for training personnel, as all F-16 training and operational materials are predominantly in English. The language training requirement has extended the training cycles by an additional two to four months.

As tensions persist between Ukraine and Russia, the deployment and utilization of the Ukrainian F-16s will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of the conflict in the region.