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Photo: USAir Force photo
Ukraine would like to receive the American F-35
Ukraine cannot create its own fighter jet and Soviet planes are becoming obsolete.
Ukraine plans to buy a US fighter squadron by 2035. This was stated in an interview with RBC-Ukraine by the Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Sergey Drozdov.
At the same time, he noted that Ukraine is unlikely to create its own plane. Just to create a prototype, he said, it takes at least 10 years and $ 10 billion.
“It is unlikely that Ukraine will succeed in creating a fighter plane, a multifunctional fighter in the near future. For this, first of all, we do not have a proper scientific basis, we do not have production capabilities, experience. Ukraine can only produce military transport aircraft, “Drozdov said.
In this sense, the Armed Forces plan to acquire aviation equipment abroad.
“We are talking about a single type of multi-role fighter, which would later replace all types of Soviet-style combat aviation: fighters, attack aircraft, bombers. Of course, the Air Force would also like to have modern technology, such as the American F-35s, our pilots would dream of flying in those planes, “Drozdov said.
He noted that Ukraine would like to follow the path of Poland, which has just started negotiations with the United States to receive F-35 fighters.
There should be no problems with retraining of flight personnel, but there are nuances with the technical base, repairs, technical support of the airfield, Drozdov noted.
In addition, the commander of the Air Force said that the army defends the air borders of Ukraine in the models of equipment that were produced from 1968 to 1991.
“The oldest aircraft we have are military transport, they are 52 years old. Attack, fighter and reconnaissance aircraft – Su-25, Su-24M, MiG-29, Su-27, Su-24MR from 1981 to 1991. During We have not received a single military aircraft for the independence of Ukraine, “he says.
Drozdov noted that the repair and modernization of Soviet equipment cannot be carried out forever, and in 10 years the aircraft will not be able to fulfill the assigned tasks.
It should be noted that last year 60% of the aircraft that entered the military units were subjected not only to repairs, but also to modernizations. We are talking about the MiG-29, MiG-29UB, Su-27, Su-25, Su-24M, Il-76 MD, An-26 aircraft.
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