Australian F/a18 Hornets to Ukraine

Attempts are in the works to send retired F/A 18 Hornets to Ukraine The planes were retired in 2021 when Australia transitioned to F35

A Texas company has placed a deposit for 41 of the aircraft and is currently trying work out a deal to send them to Ukraine

Ukraine has promised not to use the aircraft to attack Russia The US still retains a veto as the aircraft were manufactured with US technology

Question : Is that a better short term option as the desired F16 would take months if not 18 month- 2 years to be ready if a source (Netherlands?) can be found

www.msn.com...

a reply to: firerescue

Ukraine has promised not to use the aircraft to attack Russia The US still retains a veto as the aircraft were manufactured with US technology

Thanks for the laugh.

I needed that.

a reply to: firerescue

The wait was not over airframes so much as it takes about 2 years to train pilots for them. Its a pipe dream more then anything as Ukraine is running out of manpower anyway. They also don't have 2 years left in them at this rate...what they need us a leader who will sit down and negotiate peace.

Peace is very easily negotiated -- Russia withdraws back to Russia and leaves a sovereign nation alone. To rebuild from scratch.

Peace.

Want to guess the chances of this happening?

Zero. Russia is an aggressive, war hungry nation, willing to invade, pillage, rape and commit countless international crimes. All for more land. This isn't even a religious war, they don't hate each other over gods. Russia just wanted more land.

a reply to: firerescue

Sending them F-18s is a ridiculous plan. They're F-18A/Bs, so they're at the end of their life cycle. The pilot training is at least the same length for them, and they've been sitting for years, so they're going to require more maintenance than the F-16s that will be donated would. They'd require similar upgrades to improve their performance.

a reply to: RickyD

Ukrainian pilots would require 4 months to a year to transition to the F-16s. Their effectiveness with them would go up with more time to train, but they could be ready to use them quicker than original estimates.

a reply to: firerescue
Russia still haven't used the majority of their military.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: RickyD

Ukrainian pilots would require 4 months to a year to transition to the F-16s. Their effectiveness with them would go up with more time to train, but they could be ready to use them quicker than original estimates.

Have you accounted for the virtue signaling value?


This sounds like brownie points territory and maybe a write off..

a reply to: Zaphod58

All this nonsense of Ukrainian they need or must have either F16s or F18s come from NeoCons/NeoLibs who are obsessed of destroying Russia & China


They cant even control the Economic crisis like the rising inflation no thanks to their stupidity.
While they believe they are able to beat Russia military in Ukraine and China in Taiwan.

originally posted by: vNex92
a reply to: firerescue
Russia still haven't used the majority of their military.

You mean they haven't used up the majority of their military yet.

That's true, but we're working on it.

originally posted by: 1947boomer

originally posted by: vNex92
a reply to: firerescue
Russia still haven't used the majority of their military.

You mean they haven't used up the majority of their military yet.

That's true, but we're working on it.

Until the last dead Ukranian!

Amirite?



....high five???

a reply to: 1947boomer

I am amused how some are still mocking Russia.

Some are really itchy to see Russia provoked.

a reply to: JinMI

The words from Senator Lindsey Graham.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Yea something makes me doubt that amount of training would set them up to be successful with those airframes against russians at home on their own airframe. That's not even accounting for the AA systems they'd have to cope with. Sorry but I am a realist...it would be a huge waste of the airframes without much gain.

a reply to: 1947boomer

In sheer population numbers Ukraine losses unless they consistently score something like 5 or 6 to 1 for ever fighting person. Its not winnable if Russia presses it to the end. Their only chance is to use for peace.

a reply to: JinMI

An experienced pilot, already flying a fast jet just needs to learn the new switched and performance of the aircraft. They aren’t learning to fly from the start, they’re simply transitioning to a new type. They won’t have the experience that a pilot going through the full FTU school, but most of that they already know.

a reply to: RickyD

And yet, aircraft with less capable EW and countermeasure systems are surviving in that exact same environment. Funny how F-16s are so much worse than Su-27s, Su-24s and the rest that are currently flying there.

originally posted by: vNex92
Russia still haven't used the majority of their military.

So people like you keep saying. It has been part of the mantra for over a year now.

It's a foolish tactic not to "try" to win a war, and possibly the first time in history this tactic has been used.

Russia tried for the quick win, which failed disastrously, and they have been failing ever since. Their military was inadequate for the quick win, and has proven inadequate since.

a reply to: vNex92

And yet they choose to field antiquated armour like the old T-62/T-54s in Ukraine.

The nonsense you come away with is fabulous.