[gocard14]

The analysis in the Economist makes intuitive sense to this layperson, and it makes me wonder yet again, when is Ukraine going to get fighter jets?

Ukraine definitely needs and should get fighters, if only to maintain current capability despite attrition. But one of the most surprising parts of the conflict has been the relative lack of role of airpower due to the upper hand that ground based air-defenses have against them. An F16 may be more capable then a mig29, but it may not make a brobdingnagian difference if it is still too susceptible to fire from S-300s. Giving ukraine F16s doesn't give mean they can suddenly suppress enemy air defenses effectivelyThe main benefit of F16s may not be the airframe, but the fact that we can include compatible long-range weaponry that they can fire from standoff range, but that is not the combined arms role that we envision them playing. 

In a war with the US where we can obtain air superiority, the tank and other armor may be more survivable when we can offer close air support and target enemy long range fires quickly behind enemy lines.

[gocard14]

The analysis in the Economist makes intuitive sense to this layperson, and it makes me wonder yet again, when is Ukraine going to get fighter jets?

Ukraine definitely needs and should get fighters, if only to maintain current capability despite attrition. But one of the most surprising parts of the conflict has been the relative lack of role of airpower due to the upper hand that ground based air-defenses have against them. An F16 may be more capable then a mig29, but it may not make a brobdingnagian difference if it is still too susceptible to fire from S-300s. Giving ukraine F16s doesn't give mean they can suddenly suppress enemy air defenses effectivelyThe main benefit of F16s may not be the airframe, but the fact that we can include compatible long-range weaponry that they can fire from standoff range, but that is not the combined arms role that we envision them playing. 

In a war with the US where we can obtain air superiority, the tank and other armor may be more survivable when we can offer close air support and target enemy long range fires quickly behind enemy lines.