412th Test Wing Public Affairs/DVIDS
- Ukraine is due to receive much-anticipated F-16 fighter jets from its Western allies.
- A former US Marine said Ukraine may face challenges operating and maintaining the jets.
- He said the jets are much more "high maintenance" than the Soviet-era aircraft Ukraine is used to.
As Ukraine awaits the long-anticipated delivery of F-16 jets from its Western allies, experts warn that it may face challenges operating the "high maintenance" aircraft.
Tom Richter, a former US Marine pilot who flew the jets when in the National Guard, told Politico that the F-16 is "a sensitive beast" compared with the Soviet-era aircraft that Ukraine is used to.