14 December 2025
Ukraine’s combat aviation will be strengthened. Most likely, in the near future, European partners will be able to arm our country with SAAB long-range radar detection aircraft, which will make the country’s air defense more dense and allow for early prevention of threats, such as attacks by “Shaheeds”, as well as neutralizing them even on enemy territory.
What does Ukraine need most to counter enemy aviation? First of all, long-range air-to-air missiles with a range of over 200 km.
Could Ukraine face problems with military assistance from allies? The transfer of strategic strike systems may be put on hold. Europe, for objective reasons, is unable to fully cover all Ukrainian needs. In addition, there is a threat that the US will significantly reduce the PURL program. At the same time, despite this, Ukraine has already created its own strike capabilities – its own long-range drones, naval drones and high-precision systems that operate at a range of hundreds of kilometers and change the rules of the game.
This opinion was expressed by aviation expert Anatoly Khrapchinsky in an exclusive interview with OBOZ.UA.
– President Zelenskyy announced the strengthening of Ukraine’s combat aviation. Of course, he did not disclose the details. In your opinion, in what direction should the reinforcement take place today? What do we need most today, in particular in the context of air defense?
– If we talk specifically about air defense, the key is to strengthen SAAB long-range radar detection aircraft. They will create a much wider and denser radar field with greater coverage of the territory. Such platforms make it possible to warn in advance about threats, in particular about the launch of “Shaheeds”, receiving precise coordinates of targets. This would allow them to be shot down even by interceptor drones on their approach, including over enemy territory. This is just one example, but a very indicative one.
As for the aviation component in general, the priority is affordable means of destruction and high-quality detection of air targets. This includes, in particular, inexpensive missiles for the F-16 and a possible increase in the supply of other aviation weapons.
At the same time, when talking about air defense, one cannot ignore the Russian aircraft that drops KABs. For example, on the night of December 11, Russian planes struck the Sumy region, flying almost close to the border. They are counting on the absence of air defense systems in this area that could hit them.
Therefore, when it comes to countering enemy aircraft, Ukraine needs long-range air-to-air missiles that operate over the horizon – over 200 km. One of these is the MBDA Meteor missile (a Franco-British-Italian-Swedish development). However, it is only compatible with Gripen and Rafale aircraft. The F-16 cannot use it, but instead has AIM-120 D-series missiles with a range of up to 185 km.
In any case, effective defense requires a high-quality radar system. And of all the realistic things we can get in the near future, the first candidates remain long-range radar detection aircraft.
– Shouldn’t we also talk with our partners about means to destroy enemy aircraft at enemy airfields?
– This is a different level, we are talking about long-range weapons and means of preventive destruction. In fact, we are talking about strikes on military airfields with surface-to-surface or air-to-surface missiles with extended range. This is, for example, the Middlestrike missile, capable of operating to a depth of up to 600 km.
This category also includes TAURUS, Storm Shadow, and ATACMS. In addition, European partners are discussing the possibility of transferring additional weapons to expand Ukraine’s long-range capabilities.
However, in the current political situation, when a conditional peace plan is being actively discussed, it is worth understanding that decisions regarding strategic strike systems may be on hold.
– The winter period is traditionally particularly difficult. In your opinion, what could our partners provide us right now to strengthen our air defense, in particular, perhaps in the aviation component, to survive this winter?
– First of all, we are talking about additional air defense systems, especially in the segment of countering ballistics. But here it is important to distinguish between what we want to get and what they can actually provide us. If we talk about what is possible, then the choice is quite limited.
As for aviation, the only realistic option is actually 14 decommissioned Gripen aircraft from Sweden. If we talk about air defense, then, despite the available solutions, the number of systems produced is significantly lower than necessary. Even if we are given SAMP/T or Patriot, systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, we must take into account that missiles for them are produced in extremely insufficient quantities.
Europe is limited in its ability to provide certain types of weapons because its military-industrial complex has not yet switched to large-scale production. Accordingly, it is difficult to count on a significant increase in the number of air defense systems, since there will not be a sufficient number of interceptors. This creates a very painful gap between needs and capabilities.
We must honestly admit that Europe cannot fully provide us until it expands its own production capacities. This requires a unified strategy for the development of the defense industry, which would allow for an increase in the pace of production.
So we need to be realistic and talk about what is possible right now. And this is a partial reinforcement of the air fleet at the expense of older platforms, potentially Gripen or Mirage, as well as the transfer of MiG-29s, which is currently being discussed in Poland.
It is also important to understand whether the Ukrainian infrastructure is ready to accept new types of aircraft and whether there are enough trained pilots. Parallel programs, training of pilots and engineers, training of aviation specialists, as well as increasing the possibilities of using guided aerial bombs JDAM, Hammer and others are critically important here. This could potentially be a very broad package.
Therefore, in my opinion, several different tracks are being discussed now. Most likely, it will be about a comprehensive strengthening of Ukraine with the specification of existing agreements. For example, in cooperation with France, we can expect more substantive decisions regarding SAMP/T systems or Rafale aircraft. That is, these are no longer just memoranda, but steps that indicate real intentions.
– The last question is about the United States. How does the current tough stance of the Trump administration affect our aviation component?
– Most likely, the next step from the Trump administration may be to further limit aid to Ukraine. The United States has already effectively minimized support, Europe purchases a significant part of the weapons for Ukraine from the United States under the PURL program, and it is this program that can be significantly reduced. It must be honestly admitted that now Trump’s pressure is directed not only at Ukraine, but also at Europe itself.
At the same time, it is important to understand another dimension. Despite the political vacillations in Washington, Ukraine has already created such strike capabilities that no one in the world expected. We are talking about our own long-range drones, naval drones and high-precision systems that operate at hundreds of kilometers and change the rules of the game. This is especially in contrast to the fact that in the 1990s they took away our nuclear arsenal, strategic aviation, air-launched cruise missiles and key technologies, effectively depriving us of a deterrence strategy.
Today, Ukraine is demonstrating that it is capable of restoring and even rethinking its own potential – by creating a new class of high-precision weapons that deters Russia and at the same time causes some concern in the world, because this is another level of autonomous strike systems.
“Despite the political vacillations in Washington, Ukraine has already created such strike capabilities that no one in the world expected. We are talking about our own long-range drones, naval drones and high-precision systems that operate at hundreds of kilometers and change the rules of the game. This is especially in contrast to the fact that in the 1990s they took away our nuclear arsenal, strategic aviation, air-launched cruise missiles and key technologies, effectively depriving us of a deterrence strategy.”
One president took away Ukraine’s best means of deterrence, another did nothing when the terrorists violated the Budapest Memorandum, and this president is trying to hand a victory to the same terrorists.
Clearly, we, the United States, don’t shine with morals. We cannot be trusted. Period.
I hope that Congress will now step in more to prevent the orange-colored gangster from doing more damage than he already has.
At a time when Krasnov has effectively joined the putinaZi war effort, Europe is still paralyzed; leaving Ukraine to fight alone against a horde of fiends.
Now : Just joined the vermin : hundreds of fucking Serb “volunteers.”
Every shit country sends their maggots to fight for putler. But no supposedly decent country will send troops to help Ukraine.
We send weapons yes; but not enough.
The UK developed an air defence system for Ukraine : Gravehawk. 15 systems on the way. I’m trying to find out when they will be in action.
Situation as always is urgent.
Yes, it’s all so stupid and fu*cked up!
I heard of the Gravehawk system. It should be a valuable addition to Ukraine’s air defense infrastructure, if it upholds the positive messaging.