The F16s that Ukraine received are equipped with systems made by Elbit and Rafale, which Israel previously “did not want” to supply

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Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Israel has held back on supplying Ukraine with advanced weapons systems in order to “not upset” Putin. The second-hand F-16s Ukraine has received from Denmark and the Netherlands will give it important capabilities built by Israeli companies Elbit and Rafale.

Israel has effectively violated its own embargo on the supply of advanced technologies to the Ukrainian army, the Israeli portal writes on August 5, 2024 Walla.

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Only after international pressure did Israel provide Ukraine with basic products such as helmets and belts, as well as missile warning systems. However, systems that could improve Ukrainian combat capabilities were not exported.

On August 4, 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled the first F-16 fighters received from the West, in this case older fighters that had been upgraded over the years and had previously served in the Danish Air Force. The delivery of these aircraft violates an Israeli embargo on advanced technology.

According to foreign publications, the aircraft received by Ukraine are equipped with three important systems produced by the Israeli company Elbit. The first is a helmet sight, which allows the pilot to look at an enemy aircraft and launch an air-to-air missile that receives target location data from the pilot's helmet. This initial guidance saves valuable time and significantly increases the chances of hitting the target.

Two other systems, also developed by Elbit, are mounted on pylons under the aircraft's wings. One detects when a missile is fired at the aircraft and warns the pilot to maneuver and try to avoid it. The other system releases flares against heat-guided missiles and metal particles to fool radar-guided missiles.

Thus, Elbit and Israeli technology play an important role in enhancing the combat capability of Ukrainian F-16s, despite Israel's previous embargo on the supply of advanced weapons systems.

Walla reports that the F-16s that recently arrived in Ukraine were presented in an air-to-air configuration, which will be their first and easier task as part of their integration into the Ukrainian Air Force. Ukrainian pilots and ground crews now have to get used not only to the new aircraft, but also to Western technology that differs from the Soviet aircraft they used previously.

When Ukrainian pilots trained at a NATO center in Romania, the F-16s they used were equipped with an important Israeli system from Rafael. This is the Litening system, which looks like a wingless missile attached to the fuselage of an aircraft and contains cameras, a laser pointer, and other components. Litening, supplied to the Danes through American production by Northrop Grumman, significantly improves ground-attack capabilities, allowing the pilot to identify targets at long range and guide laser bombs at them.

These systems will significantly improve the Ukrainian Air Force’s ability to counter Russian aircraft and Iranian drones that Russia launches against targets in Ukraine. In the future, as experience is gained and the number of F-16s, of which Ukraine is expected to receive 65, increases, these aircraft will allow for strikes behind enemy lines with greater survivability. Ukraine is expected to receive additional aircraft of this type from the Dutch Air Force, which is also equipped with Israeli systems.

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