The Ukrainian Defence Ministry has reported that due to a lack of funds the purchase of modern foreign fighters of generation 4+ to upgrade the existing fleet of the Ukrainian Air Force is impossible
The Ukrainian military authorities have stated that the country does not have money for the planned modernization of the Air Force from 2021 to 2035. Despite the significant obsolescence of the existing fleet of Su-27, Mig-29, Su-25 and Su-24 aircraft, the purchase of new aircraft has not been included in the defence order, even in the long term.
Due to lack of funds, procurement of aircraft such as F-15EX, Saab JAS 39 Gripen or F-16 Block 70/72 has not been included even in the draft defence order plans even in the long term, the Defence Ministry said.
The military explained that the Air Force modernization programme is estimated at 320bn hryvnyas (in 2020 prices) and is beyond the scope of financing by the Defence Ministry, as the programme cannot be implemented given Ukraine’s current economic capacities.
At the same time, according to calculations of the Ukrainian media, the number of MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters in service with the AFU Air Force will begin to decline significantly by 2025, with the last Soviet-type aircraft finally being scrapped by 2030.
A total of 72 to 108 fighters were planned to be purchased, but this purchase has now been postponed indefinitely.