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Exclusive: This week, two Ukrainian Air Force fighter pilots move from the forefront of the war with Russia to Washington, DC, putting pressure on Congress on the importance of providing urgently needed equipment, including fourth-generation fighters. Called.
The two pilots, identified only by the callsigns “Juice” and “Moonfish” for protection, sat down with lawmakers at a private meeting on Thursday, detailing what they needed in the immediate middle sense. I told Fox News.
“They are sending attack aircraft and helicopters at low altitudes through the front lines to attack our fighters in trenches,” Juice explained. “We need to react and we need to intercept them. We need to save the lives of civilians and ground forces.”
ZELENSKYY wants the US and Poland to send a MIG-29 plane, and defense officials have warned that this is easier than it is done.
Juice, which the squadron was notorious for when flying to protect Kyiv, said air defense was a top priority for Ukrainian fighters.
Pilots said, first and foremost, Ukrainian fighters on the ground and in the air need more sophisticated surveillance and response systems to detect against the barrage of Russian missile launches.
Fox News declined details of the system at the request of officials involved in the talks, but the pair listed a series of defenses they had spoken to lawmakers.
The United States supplied Ukraine with a series of heavy artillery, including howitzers, javelin throws, and stinger missiles, helping resistance fighters dodge Russia’s advance, but said juice wasn’t enough.
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“Air defense is fairly immediate, but it depends on the mutual level of air defense,” the pilot told Fox News. “We have already received the Stinger missile. This is the lowest level of air defense. It’s very effective for that role, but it requires some simple next level of air defense.”
Ukrainian leaders have been begging the United States and other NATO countries for months to supply the latest fighters, including the F-16s and F-15s.
The Biden administration refused to send Ukrainian fighters because of concerns that would increase tensions with Russia.
But as the war lasts for four months and billions of dollars of US defense aid continue to be poured into Ukraine, frontline fighters are able to properly attack Russia and end the costly war. Also claims to need a fighter.
Senator Dan Sullivan of the Alaskan Republican Party, who led the meeting on Thursday, is Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. , Roger Wicker, R-Miss. , Lindsey Graham, RS.C. , Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Jim Riche, R-Idaho, Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin said, “Hesitation doesn’t really exist in Congress.”
“I believe they should have a weapons system that they believe they need to win,” he told Fox News. “And guessing it second is not very useful to us.”
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Senators acknowledged that Ukrainian pilots need to be trained in fourth-generation fighters, but Ukrainian pilots say this can be completed quickly over a period of three to six months. believe.
Sullivan, who called the meeting “powerful,” said Senator not only made Kyiv instantly available what he needed, but also “litigated” the administration and the Pentagon when it came to supplying Ukrainian soldiers. “. With a modern fighter.
“These guys are off the front line, and they’re back. They’ll probably fight on Monday,” he said. “It adds a little more inspiration and credibility to what they are looking for.”
Ukrainian pilots have relied heavily on Soviet-era MiG-29 fighters, but outdated aircraft do not have the technological advances needed for modern warfare.
“If you are fighting a Russian fighter face-to-face, you won’t even be able to find him on the radar screen. [by the time] He has already launched a missile, “Juice explained.
Despite the enormous danger, Juice, Moonfish and their fellow pilots face in the cockpit, they continue to return to the sky to engage the Russian sortie.
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“The realm of modern warfare is the war of numbers, distances, ranges and kill rates, and our kill rates are not enough to be effective,” he added. “Our air and ground defenses have proven to be competent and effective against them, which is why they suffered great losses from the beginning of this war.
“But our ground defense can’t cover the whole country. It’s not as mobile as a fighter. We need both,” Juice urged.