Ukraine has long sought F-16s, believing the Western fighter jets would be a boon to their arsenal. Danil Shamkin/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesUkraine is currently flying Soviet-made MiG-29 and Su-27 multirole fighters against a larger and technologically superior Russian air force. The aircraft are underdogs compared to Russian fighter aircraft like the MiG-31s and Su-25s, which feature advanced radars that allow them to see and locate targets further away, among other higher-end capabilities. Ukraine's been operating much of its air force from "remote locations, places that the Russians wouldn't expect," Tannehill added. One of the biggest challenges for the Ukrainian air forces has been Russia's formidable air defenses, which have kept much of Kyiv's air force far from the front lines.

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