US Admiral Proposes F-16s to Counter Russian Ballistic Missiles

Retired US Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery suggests equipping Ukrainian F-16 fighters with modern targeting and reconnaissance pods, along with precision-guided glide bombs and long-range cruise missiles, to neutralize Russia's ballistic missile threat by destroying mobile launchers on Russian territory. He argues that this approach is more effective than intercepting missiles with scarce Patriot and SAMP/T interceptors. Montgomery also proposes using Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles launched from F-16s to strike launchers, with a range of about 480 kilometers and resistance to electronic warfare. He believes that updating F-16 software and integrating ERAM into the weapons control systems would allow for more effective target management.