Since the onset of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s defensive achievements have been commendable. In the early days of the war, Ukrainian soldiers and even civilians relied on minimal weapons to aid its successful thwarting of Russia’s advancement. The West, primarily North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members, have supplemented Ukraine’s stockpiles over the last year to support the country’s ongoing objective to stymie Moscow’s offense.
In addition to humanitarian aid, Ukraine has received billions of dollars’ worth of high-end artillery, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, long-range rockets, and loads of munitions. While this aid has undoubtedly helped shape the trajectory of the war so far, Ukrainian officials are frequently requesting additional shipments of military equipment. Specifically, Kyiv wants F-16 fighter jets, armored vehicles and long-range missiles.
F-16 fighters:
An online crowdfunding campaign aiming to secure fighter jets has recently been launched by Ukraine. The “Buy Me A Fighter Jet” campaign seeks public funds to procure a variety of fighter platforms, including the American-made F-16 Fighting Falcon. Ukrainian officials believe that the Soviet-designed jets they are more likely to aquire from former-USSR bloc countries are not capable enough to perform effectively against Russia.
While the F-16 is over four decades old, this formidable airframe has undergone several facelifts that make it a true powerhouse in the skies. The F-16 recently benefited from a Service Life Extension program that incorporated the fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s Active Electronically Scanned Array radar.
The F-16 platform has a strong record of success in combat missions and remains one of the most commonly utilized fighters across the globe in terms of logistics.
As explained in an earlier 19frotyfive piece, a Fighting Falcon fleet would significantly improve Ukraine’s aerial arsenal since these airframes can be more effective in “destroying air targets than an air defense system, because it (the jet) can move to any part of Ukraine and intercept a rocket, while air defense systems need to be stationed in places where a missile attack is anticipated.”
F-16
Armored vehicles and MBTS:
Tank warfare has certainly shaped the outcome of several battles in Ukraine over the last year. Ukraine has learned that if it wants to punch holes in Moscow’s defensive lines and reclaim some of its seized territory it will need modern MBTs to achieve this.
This fall, the U.S., UK and Germany agreed to deliver shipments of Challengers, Leopards, and Abrams tanks to Ukraine within the next few months. While the influx of these armored vehicles will certainly be a plus for its infantry, Ukrainian officials believe that the expected number of tanks will not be nearly enough for the new brigades it aims to field in its counter-offensive. Earlier this month, Ukraine announced that it had already gathered 40,000 soldiers to fight alongside its regular army units.
An M1A2 Abrams SEP V2 main battle tank, assigned to Cold Steel Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, fires a M865 target practice cone stabilized discarding sabot with tracer on December 9, 2021, at the National Training Center and Fort Irwin training area.
The American-made Abrams family of MBTs arguably represent the most advanced armored vehicles to be sent to Ukraine. Last month, the Pentagon revealed that it would be refurbishing existing M1A1 Abrams MBTs in order to expedite tank deliveries to Ukraine.
Initially, the U.S. stated that 31 M1A2 tanks would be shipped to Ukraine, however, it would take nearly two years for the newer Abrams variant to make it through the production process.
Long-range missiles:
Ukraine has been eyeing America’s MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) for months. The surface-to-surface missile manufactured by Lockheed Martin has a range of roughly 190 miles, making it the long-range weapon perhaps on the top of Ukraine’s wish list. Due to its range, the ATACMS could reach deep inside Russian territory if fired from Ukraine.
Spelled out by the Kremlin as its “red line,” the delivery of ATACMS to Ukraine is not as likely to come to fruition. Despite this fact, a U.S. lawmaker said that momentum in Washington was shifting toward providing Kyiv with the long-range missions (and fighter jets) it desired, according to Reuters.
However, the White House recently gave its Ukrainian counterparts an alternate explanation to why it could not sign off on a deal to provide the country with these long-range missiles. According to the Biden administration, the U.S. is concerned that there aren’t enough ATACMS already in its stockpile and cannot afford to send off its remaining few.
ATACMS firing back in 2006. Image Credit: U.S. Army.
Considering the caliber and variety of Western weapons and other equipment sent to Ukraine over the last year, the eastern European country now possesses one of the most technologically diverse stockpiles across the globe.
As Moscow’s invasion lags on, Kyiv will likely request additional aid packages to supplement its defensive efforts.
Maya Carlin, a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
