Ukraine recently started using a small number of F-16 fighter jets, but after two months, these planes haven't made much of an impact in the ongoing war. Ukrainian President Zelensky’s government is now shifting focus, asking for other jets, like the Gripen and Eurofighter, while still relying mostly on drone attacks against Russia. A Russian military aviation expert, Major Andrei Krasnoperov, spoke to Sputnik and explained why the F-16s are struggling to make a difference.

Krasnoperov said that fighter jets like the F-16 are not easy to hide. "A plane isn’t a tiny needle that’s tough to find. It’s a big metal machine that needs a secure shelter," he explained. However, even these concrete shelters don’t provide enough protection if hit by a powerful missile. He mentioned Russia’s Kinzhal missile, which is incredibly fast and powerful. If it strikes close enough to a shelter, the structure would collapse, making it useless.

The expert also emphasized how fragile fighter jets...