OT: Pick a Fighter for Ukraine

[Vespers War]

Originally Posted by Raellus

By now, we all know that Ukraine will soon be receiving some ex-NATO F-16s and, fairly recently, France announced that it will be donating Mirage 2000s.

And now Super Etendards, of all combat aircraft, from Argentina, of all countries? I don't think anyone saw that one coming. Would you classify the Super Etendard as a fighter?

https://www.twz.com/sea/argentinian-...ukraine-report

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They can carry Matra Magic air-to-air missiles, but if they were being given a US designation it'd probably start with an A, not an F. In my book, that's perfectly fine because Ukraine needs air-to-ground aircraft as well as air-to-air fighters. With 85+ F-16, plus some parts donors and whatever the US gives, their next need is that strike role.

Their current best-guess inventory (not including training aircraft) is 72 fighters (47 MiG-29 and 25 Su-27) and 30 strike aircraft (14 Su-24 and 16 Su-25). Add in the F-16 and Mirage 2000-5 and you're probably approaching 175-200 fighters...and 30 strike aircraft.

When the 2000-5 donation was announced, I thought it would be a good opportunity to also donate some 2000D to support that strike role, particularly since they can carry Scalp/Storm Shadow and Hammer rocket-propelled bombs, both of which are being provided to Ukraine. France is upgrading 55 of the 86 aircraft, and donating whatever's still useful out of the other 31 would help Ukraine augment its air-to-ground capability.