A fighter pilot of the Ukrainian Air Force told NHK that although the frequency of attacks by the Russian military has decreased compared to before, tactics have changed, such as combining various missiles. On top of that, he argued that American F-16 fighter jets were needed to counter the Russian army.
Earlier this month, NHK interviewed a man who is the captain of the Air Force's fighter unit responsible for Ukraine's air defense and himself a pilot of the MiG-29 fighter jet.
Referring to the large-scale missile attacks carried out by the Russian military in Kyiv and other places on May 9, the captain said, "We were damaged by missile attacks of the type that were able to shoot down many cruise missiles but could not intercept them. He pointed out that tactics are being changed, such as attacking ballistic missiles and missiles that are said to be hypersonic weapons.
"Russia, a major power, has many fighter jets and weapons, and Ukraine can only win if it uses the latest weapons more than Russia," he said, calling for further provision of the latest weapons.
Regarding the weapons he wants to provide, the captain said, "Casualties continue to increase in Ukraine due to the delay of the provision of fighter jets by the West," and appealed for the need for U.S. F-16 fighter jets equipped with powerful radars.
Regarding the provision of fighter jets to Ukraine by the West, Poland and Slovakia decided to provide the former Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets this month, while President Biden of the United States has repeatedly indicated that he will not provide the U.S. F-16 fighter jets that the Ukrainian side has requested.