The F-16 is not well suited to the kind of runways that Ukraine has. What matters just as much is the air-to-air missile that it would carry, says Chiang. I think that Ukraine is going to get Western planes. It's not going to have them in time for the offensive that's coming up. But if Western countries act now and realize the seriousness of the problems that Ukraine is facing with air defense, they could conceivably get F-16s or indeed other planes by the end of this year.