Two F-16s delivered to the Ukrainian Air Force have performed a demonstration flight during a ceremony attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The second-hand F-16s have been spotted with their equipment. The munitions are AIM-9L Sidewinder and AIM-120B AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.
Additionally, something that isn't a munition but helpful for the Ukrainian F-16s' survivability has also been identified. After closely inspecting the pylons 3 and 7 fitted with sensors, the equipment has been identified as Terma's ECIPS. ECIPS is a pylon-integrated solution combining missile warning sensors and a jammer to protect the aircraft against missiles as a complement to the aircraft's systems. Because Ukrainian F-16s are earlier models, this integration might have been done to address potential shortcomings in survivability against SAMs and Russian fighters.
The Netherlands has reserved 18 F-16 AM/BM Block 15 fighters to be supplied to Ukraine. The European country is in the process of filling the gap left by delivered F-16s with F-35A fifth-generation fighter jets. The Ukrainian pilots received specialised training in Denmark after learning the English language and completing basic training procedures.
In the video, the pilots are seen wearing the JHMCS helmets as well. JHMCS or Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System provides both targeting and night vision capabilities to the pilot in a helmet package. Munitions and sensors (e.g. targeting pods) can be cued by moving the helmet towards the target without changing the direction of the aircraft. JHMCS is compatible with F-16, F-18, and F-15 fighter jets.
F-16s will provide the advantage of smoother munition supply to the Ukrainian Air Force due to the NATO-standard interface. Ukraine's ex-USSR aircraft like Su-27, MiG-29, and Su-24 required additional work for the integration of NATO-standard munitions.
In addition to improved logistics on the munitions side, maintenance and repairs can be performed by other F-16 users (Providers of the jets as the most obvious example) if Ukraine doesn't have the means.
