If F-16 are deployed in Ukraine then Russian might increase their deployment of air defense system or air force. They might even rain down their missile on suspected airport/base.
I would love to see the air force or air defense actually happens. Especially on Black Sea theater. One way for Russians to prevent disaster like Tavrida, Moskva and Snake island was increased air support. There should always be CAP on top of their troops picking Ukrainian fighters or UAV's.
F-16 is easy target for Su-57. Imagine F-16 getting downed in Ukraine by Su-57. That is big sales booster for Su-57, sales suppressor for F-16.
nonono..this wont happen F-16 already have well established market. Even some of them got shot down, there will still people wanting to buy new F-16's. procurement of arms is far beyond whether an aircraft got shotdown.
Since I doubt that US gonna give their shiny new F-16V for Ukraine. I gonna assume they would likely at best get Block 52. While Block 52 is capable fighter and better than Mig-29. I doubt it's a game changer as they hope for.
The concern is that whether US will also allow deployment of Standoff weapon to F-16's. say a GBU-39. it will outrange any Medium Russian SAM's. also it can be carried in considerable numbers, saturating Pantsyr and Tor's.
Worse if JASSM is cleared this will allow very deep strike to Russian mainland itself. It will also put the F-16's far from Russian SAM's.
The biggest advantage however with the F-16 or NATO fighters is that the Link-16 which allows direct connection between NATO surveillance asset with the F-16's. If these assets are enough for identification. It will allow true BVR shot in maximum range of whatever A2A missile US provided for the F-16's. If the C variant of AMRAAM is provided 100 km BVR shot is not unreasonable. It doesnt have to hit but it will put Russian on defensive or terminate their attacks.
