The pilots are new to it, so they're not going to put them at the riskiest missions," Hecker said at an Air & Space Forces conference, highlighting the cautious approach taken by Ukraine.
Ultimately, that's a Ukrainian decision. But I think that's the approach that they're taking," Hecker commented on Ukraine's choice to prioritize safety by keeping F-16s in less dangerous roles.
Before Ukraine received its F-16s, there were concerns about how Kyiv would employ them effectively in combat situations, particularly due to the pilots' inexperience.
Initial imagery of the F-16s suggested they would be used for air defense, not for high-risk operations like close-air support or destroying enemy defenses.
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