The Ukrainian Armed Forces received American F-16 fighters from their Western partners, but their condition leaves much to be desired for countering Russian Su-35s. This was reported on March 11, 2025, by the head of the communications department of the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuriy Ignat, in a commentary to RBC. According to him, the transferred aircraft are not modern models, which significantly limits their capabilities in air combat.

"These F-16s are not entirely new and cannot fully compete with the Su-35 one-on-one," — Ignat emphasized, pointing out the technical lag of the equipment supplied by the allies.

The statement reflects Kyiv’s growing disappointment with the quality of military aid from the United States and other NATO countries. The F-16s, which Ukraine had been negotiating since the summer of 2023, began arriving in 2024 from the reserves of Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. However, as Ignat noted, the transferred aircraft are early modifications, such as the F-16A/B, developed back in the 1970s and only partially modernized. These aircraft are inferior to the Russian Su-35 in maneuverability, radar range, and armament, which makes them vulnerable in the current conflict.

The F-16 deliveries were accompanied by loud statements about a turning point in the air confrontation. According to Reuters, Ukraine received about 2025 fighters by March 20, but their combat use is limited due to a shortage of trained pilots and outdated equipment. Forbes experts point out that to effectively counter the Su-35, newer versions are needed, such as the F-16C/D Block 50/52, equipped with modern AESA radars and AIM-120D missiles, which are not present in the deliveries.