AFTER A YEAR OF FIGHTING, NEITHER THE RUSSIAN NOR UKRAINIAN AIR FORCES HAVE BEEN ABLE to take control of the skies over Ukraine. As per the United States Air Force (USAF), this has severely limited the role that their fighter jets have played in the conflict and it is a preview of what their troops could face in the future. While Russian and Ukrainian aircraft are still active, each side's air defence weapons such as major Soviet-era anti-aircraft systems such as the S-300 or the newer shoulder-fired missiles like the US-made Stinger, have forced the other to make tactical adaptations such as launching less accurate rocket attacks from longer ranges rather than sending aircraft to provide close air support over the front lines. Ukraine is estimated to have lost more than 60 aircraft and Russia more than 70, according to General James Hecker, Commander - USAF in Europe. Hecker told reporters at the Air and Space Forces Association symposium that Russia's larger air force still has jets it could devote to the war, as does Ukraine; but there is an issue. "The problem is both of the Russian as well as the Ukrainian success in integrated air and missile defence have made much of those aircraft worthless. They are not doing a whole lot because they cannot go over and do close air support," Hecker said.
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