As part of efforts to facilitate the deployment of its F-16 fighter jets, the Ukrainian Air Force is working in collaboration with the Come Back Alive foundation on the development of a new mobile support system, which was recently unveiled to the public through social media. According to its developers, the new system will allow the Western-donated aircraft to receive support at any location where they land, while also reducing the number of personnel required for maintenance ahead of future missions.
In terms of its components, the system includes two vans for transporting munitions, a mobile workshop for testing, and a logistics support pickup truck. It also features an operations module where pilots and commanders can conduct mission planning briefings, as well as an additional module—mounted in container units connected to a truck—where pilots can rest during extended rotations.
Altogether, the system allows pilots and technicians to operate not only from primary airfields, as has been the case until now, but also from temporary locations with more austere conditions. This is a crucial development, given that Ukraine’s main air bases have been frequent targets of Russian air and missile strikes. Increased flexibility in supporting the F-16s thus represents a major strategic advantage.
Regarding staffing requirements, local sources report that the new system reduces the necessary personnel by more than half. Concretely, teams of 10–12 people previously needed to support F-16 operations can now be reduced to just three. Additionally, the system is expected to cut down turnaround times—for instance, in rearming the fighter for a new mission.
As the manufacturer states on its official page: “The units create a full-service ecosystem that enables aircraft maintenance at both primary and temporary airfields. Previously, placing a single munition required 10 to 12 people. The new system needs only three and completes the task twice as fast.”
*Image credits: Come Back Alive – Ukrnafta
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