"Ukraine's Problems Require a Different Solution Than MiG Fighter Jets"

The delivery of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine by NATO nations will not make a crucial difference to its capabilities, but will help replenish losses and expand current operations. Upgrading the Ukrainian air force with Western-made fighter jets, such as the F-16, will be an inevitable conversation, according to experts. The F-16s are unsuitable for Ukraine's lack of smooth runways and dispersed locations, and would require new training pipelines for pilots and ground crews. The promise of MiG-29s is more important as a political gesture than as a way of upgrading Ukraine's airpower.