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Ukraine’s Air Force Is Going Fully Western—F-16 Wings, Gripen-Ready Bases and New Upgrades
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Ukraine is restructuring its combat aviation around Western-style fighter wings, has already established the 107th F-16 Aviation Wing, and is preparing airbases capable of supporting multiple aircraft types—including Sweden’s Gripen—as part of a long-term Air Force transformation through 2035.
Yurii Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine’s Air Force Command, told RBC-Ukraine on October 26 that the reform is intended to move Ukrainian aviation away from a structure built around individual Soviet-era aircraft types and toward more flexible bases and formations capable of operating Western fighters.
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Ukraine is also counting on cooperation with US defense giant Lockheed Martin to repair, modernize, and improve the performance of its existing F-16 fleet.
For Ukrainian pilots, Ihnat said, the ultimate goal would be newer F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft.
“The dream of our pilots regarding the F-16 is to receive them in the newest modifications—Block 70/72. They would already allow us to confront Russian Su-35s with considerable confidence,” Ihnat said.
Gripen is also attracting significant attention inside the Ukrainian Air Force because of its relatively low operating costs and ability to function from less demanding infrastructure.
“Many of our pilots are discussing the Gripen because it is undemanding and one of the cheapest aircraft to operate,” Ihnat said.
Ukraine could initially receive older Gripen C/D variants already in service, he added, while manufacturer Saab is continuing work on the newer Gripen E.
“At first, we could receive aircraft that have already been in use—the C/D versions, Charlie and Delta. But the Swedish company Saab is already working on the new E—Echo—modification, which has very good characteristics,” Ihnat said.
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Ukraine’s aviation plans extend well beyond wartime deliveries.
“We already have to think about the strategy for developing the Air Force after the war. It has already been laid out through 2035, including what the Air Force model will look like, what types of weapons we will have, and what the organizational structure will be,” Ihnat said.
For combat aviation specifically, that means transitioning toward wing-based formations.
“If we are talking specifically about aviation, this involves creating aviation units of the ‘wing’ type. For example, yesterday we already presented the Facebook page of the 107th F-16 Aviation Wing, which may publish some materials about its work,” he said.
At the same time, Ukraine is preparing what Ihnat described as universal airbases rather than facilities tied to a single fighter model. The goal is for the same infrastructure to be capable of supporting F-16s, Gripens, and potentially other Western aircraft.
Previously, reports emerged that US defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin is considering a specialized version of the F-16 fighter jet for Ukraine, featuring extended flight range, upgraded radar systems, and improved capabilities to intercept Russian drones and cruise missiles.
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