Project "Buy me a fighter": the last hope of the Ukrainian Air Force
A frame from the project's advertisement
In recent weeks, the Ukrainian Air Force has lost most of its available fleet of combat aircraft. It can be restored within a reasonable time only through the supply of equipment from abroad, and only certain models. However, the owners of suitable aircraft refuse to give them away. The way out of this situation can be the purchase of equipment on a commercial basis - and for this, a collection of voluntary donations has begun.
Buy a plane!
A few days ago, unknown persons or organizations launched the "Buy me a fighter jet" ("Buy me a fighter jet") project. Its purpose is to collect voluntary donations for the purchase aviation equipment for the Ukrainian Air Force. With the data collected, they plan to buy Soviet-style aircraft from third countries and transfer them to the Ukrainian army.
To draw attention to the project, a promotional video was filmed and published. In it, a pilot of the Ukrainian Air Force looks sadly at the broken fighters and asks to buy him a new plane so that he can fight "Russian aggression." He promises to destroy Tanks and planes of "non-humans" and "occupiers" and defend Ukraine. At the end of the video, the pilot gets into a new plane and flies off somewhere.
The collection of money is organized in a curious way. The authors of the project do not publish any details or means of payment. They provide the necessary information upon request. At the same time, some experts are ready to give advice on technical and legal issues. Why such a scheme is used is not clear, but reasons for this can be imagined.
Desired technique
According to the project website, the collected money will be used to purchase used aircraft from third countries. To help the Ukrainian Air Force, they can purchase MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, as well as Su-24 bombers or Su-25 attack aircraft. The average cost of such machines is estimated at $25 million.
Hypothetical sources of such technique are presented. The authors of the project have compiled a table that indicates which countries and in what quantity have aircraft of the required types. In total, they counted several hundred cars in two dozen countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. All these states are considered as potential sellers. However, their opinion on such sales, for obvious reasons, is not given.
Also, the project does not exclude the possibility of purchasing foreign-made equipment. As an example of such aircraft, the Swedish fighter JAS 39, the French Rafale, as well as the American F-15, F-16, F / A-18 and even the F-22 and F-35 are named. At the same time, they promise a quick and high-quality development of such technology.
The problem and its solution
Ukraine lost the bulk of combat aircraft back in February-March. At the same time, a proposal appeared to restore the Air Force fleet by obtaining equipment from foreign states. It was reported that several European NATO member countries at once have the necessary aircraft and could transfer them to Ukraine.
However, this option of military-technical assistance was blocked by the United States. Washington agrees that the transfer of aircraft will increase the combat capability of Ukraine, but at the same time they fear that such a move will lead to an escalation of the conflict and potentially threaten NATO and the United States. As a result, all requests from Kyiv for the transfer of aircraft still remain without the answer he needs.
And now, after several weeks of rejection, the "Buy me a fighter jet" project, launched by unknown individuals or organizations, appears. His main idea is that Ukraine should not rely on gratuitous aid, but raise money and buy the desired equipment.
The promotional video of the new project, as planned, attracted attention and caused a different reaction. In Ukraine, the project is viewed as another "overcome" or a sure step towards it, but there are other opinions. Fundraising causes surprise and bewilderment. In addition, there are various questions and doubts about the possibility of achieving the declared goals.
Financing Issues
The Buy a Fighter project has a very difficult task. The average cost of an aircraft for purchase is set at $25 million, which means that hundreds of millions may be needed for a significant rearmament of the Ukrainian Air Force. Whether it will be possible to collect and use them in the stated way is a big question.
Individuals and various organizations from Ukraine and from foreign countries are offered to donate for planes. At the same time, the real potential of such a collection is unknown. It is possible that the actual donations will not be enough even for one aircraft at the named price.
However, another scenario cannot be ruled out, in which the project will receive large amounts sufficient to purchase equipment. The project of "voluntary donations" may be a front for covert financing of the Ukrainian army from abroad. In this case, instead of open assistance, Ukraine will receive money allegedly from individuals and organizations. Such financing schemes under the guise of charity and donations are well known and worked out by foreign organizations.
However, a simpler explanation is also possible. The sphere of charity and fundraising consistently attracts scammers. The organizers can open the reception of money "for planes", and then withdraw the funds in an unknown direction and the abyss. In such a scenario, the actual volume of aid collected is of no fundamental importance.
MiG-29 Ukrainian Air Force. Apparently already destroyed
Looking for a seller
If the "Buy me a fighter jet" project succeeds in raising money for the purchase of aircraft, it will have to deal with another problem. We have to find a foreign country that will agree to sell the planes. As the events of the recent past show, problems should arise at this stage.
The possibility of acquiring modern foreign fighters can be ruled out immediately. Rafale, F-16, JAS 39, etc. too expensive even in used form. In addition, the Ukrainian Air Force cannot operate such aircraft: it takes months or years to master them, as well as additional expenses.
Obsolete Soviet-style aviation equipment could be bought from Russia or Belarus. But in the current situation, such a proposal looks like an evil irony. Therefore, you will have to apply with a commercial offer to other countries. The authors of the project provide a list of two dozen countries from three continents that have the desired machines and could probably sell them.
However, such purchases will face obvious difficulties. Thus, European NATO countries are unlikely to give away or sell aircraft due to a virtual ban from the United States. Asian countries such as India or Malaysia have a large fleet of Soviet / Russian aircraft, but they are actively using it and will not sell it off. In addition, they will take into account possible political implications.
Small and poor countries in Asia and Africa are unlikely to become good sellers. They have an extremely limited number of aircraft, and the sale of equipment will hit their combat capability. At the same time, such countries could sell aircraft that were taken out of service due to poor condition and the impossibility of repair. But such an offer is unlikely to interest the buyer, who has nowhere and no time to carry out repairs.
Ukrainian Su-24s a few years before the Special Operation
However, it cannot be ruled out that "Buy me a fighter jet" and the Ukrainian Air Force will still be able to find a seller who is ready to supply the desired equipment. But when this happens, which country will become the seller, and which aircraft will be transferred is unknown.
At the same time, it should be expected that the supply of equipment will not be massive, and Ukraine will not receive truly modern models. As a result, the acquired aircraft will not have any impact on the course of current events. In addition, their fate is already clear. Russian air defense and air forces control the situation in the air, and any Ukrainian attempt to use newly acquired aircraft is likely to end in their loss.
Last Hope
As a result of active measures taken by the Russian army to demilitarize, the Ukrainian Air Force found itself in an extremely difficult situation. The vast majority of serviceable materiel has been knocked out, and it is impossible to restore the park on its own. It remains to rely only on foreign assistance, but difficulties have arisen in this area, and Ukraine has to look for new solutions.
As a way out of this situation, it is proposed to purchase aircraft for donations. However, this project already at the start looks doubtful. There are no guarantees that he will be able to raise the necessary money, and the funds received will be used to purchase equipment and will not be stolen. In addition, the very possibility of making purchases is questionable. But the consequences of the hypothetical acquisition of technology and its sad prospects in the current situation are obvious.
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